Associate Professor Justin Kavanagh’s project investigates the underlying causes of muscle weakness in multiple sclerosis (MS), which can severely impact mobility and quality of life. Currently, the specific mechanisms that lead to muscle weakness in MS are not fully understood, limiting the development of effective treatments. This research project will use a combination of advanced techniques, including neuroimaging to capture detailed images of brain and spinal cord structures, high-density electromyography to measure how muscles are activated, and computer models that simulate motor neuron behaviour.
Associate Professor Kavanagh and his team will explore how MS affects nerve cells that control muscles (motor neurons), focusing on changes in motor neuron function and disruptions in brain and spinal cord communication. They will also study how MS may interfere with essential brain chemicals like serotonin and noradrenaline, which help regulate motor neurons.
By integrating clinical, physiological, and computational approaches, this project aims to provide unprecedented insights into how the central nervous system contributes to muscle weakness in MS. These findings could ultimately guide the development of new, targeted treatments that improve mobility and quality of life for people with MS.
Associate Professor Kavanagh and his team have made strong early progress in this project, focusing on understanding how changes in the spinal cord affect muscle function in people with MS.
During the first year of the project, the team prioritised a key study examining how the nervous system activates muscles. They have recruited and collected data from 18 people with MS and 13 people without MS, more than halfway towards their recruitment target.
To support this work, the researchers have established advanced methods to measure muscle activity using high‑density electrodes placed on the skin. These techniques will allow them to analyse how signals from the spinal cord activate muscles in detail. The team has also developed the systems and software needed to process and analyse these complex data once collection is complete.
Early observations suggest that people with MS may have difficulty fully activating their muscles due to changes in how signals are transmitted through the spinal cord. In particular, there are indications that both the communication between the brain and spinal cord and the way the spinal cord amplifies these signals may be affected.
The project is now moving into the next phase, with a focus on completing data collection and beginning detailed analysis of how spinal cord pathways contribute to muscle weakness.
This work is helping build a clearer understanding of the causes of motor symptoms in MS, with the long‑term goal of informing new approaches to improve mobility and function.
Updated 31 March 2026Â
$249,794
2025
3 years
Current project
