Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles with a lipid (fat) membrane that almost all types of cells release. EVs play an important role in travelling between cells as communicators and carrying a large range of substances that influence the biological functions of the receiving cells. EVs also have an effect on various disease processes.
EVs are hugely important in advancing our understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS) due to their role in communication between cells, their potential as blood biomarkers (biological signs) and because they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, a layer of cells that protects the brain from harmful substances. In MS, there is a great need to find reliable and biomarkers that require less invasive sampling than lumbar puncture, to support diagnosis and monitoring of therapy.
PhD candidate, Ms Drishya Mainali, is travelling to Dr Setty Magaña laboratory at The Ohio State University for eight weeks to learn advanced techniques in isolating, characterising and analysing EVs. She will bring these techniques back to her laboratory at The University of Sydney, NSW and pass them on to her team. The techniques will also be used in ongoing research projects.
These advanced techniques are crucial for accurately profiling EVs in fluid samples from people living with MS. By enhancing her laboratory’s capabilities to profile EVs, Ms Mainali’s work will contribute to the early detection and monitoring of MS.
Ms Mainali spent eight weeks at The Ohio State University in Dr Setty Magaña’s laboratory, where she learnt advanced techniques to study EVs, using a combination of blood and cell culture samples, including those derived from people living with MS. She worked alongside clinicians, gaining insight into how this research connects to real-world experiences of people living with MS.
The visit also enabled her to establish international collaborations and gain exposure to emerging EV technologies, which will inform future experiments and strengthen the design and interpretation of her research.
Since returning to Sydney, she has begun establishing these methods in her laboratory and applying them to blood samples from people living with MS.
This work aims to identify new EV-based biomarkers to support earlier detection and monitoring of MS. By building technical capability, strengthening international collaborations, and translating these approaches locally, Ms Mainali’s work contributes to advancing more timely diagnosis and personalised care for people living with MS.
Overall, the award has successfully equipped Ms Mainali with the technical skills, knowledge, and networks to progress her MS research. It has strengthened her laboratory’s capabilities and positioned her project to contribute to the development of blood biomarkers, with potential to improve diagnosis, disease monitoring, and care for people living with MS.
Updated 31 March 2026Â
$21,576
2025
8 weeks
Past project
