Investigating a molecular control switch in brain cells in myelin repair

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects more than 33,000 Australians. In MS, myelin, a substance that insulates and protects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, is attacked, leading to damage to brain cells and disability.

Repairing the damage to the myelin (remyelination) protects brain cells from further damage. While current treatments can reduce relapses in MS, they may not necessarily prevent long-term damage and do not work in all people living with MS. New treatments that protect and repair the brain are desperately needed.

Dr Sarrabeth Stone and her team are investigating microglia, a type of caretaker brain cell that can promote myelin repair, making them an excellent target for the development of new treatments for MS. This project focuses on understanding how microRNA, a type of molecular control switch, can be used to direct microglia to repair myelin effectively.

This research will open avenues to new therapies that promote repair and regeneration in the brain and spinal cord of people living with MS.