In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, a protective coating around nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin helps these nerves send signals quickly and efficiently.
When myelin is damaged, nerve signals are disrupted. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including trouble walking, bladder issues, fatigue, and difficulties with thinking or memory.
In the early stages of MS, some natural myelin repair can occur. But over time, this process fails, leading to permanent nerve damage and progressive disability, even when inflammation is well controlled. There is an urgent need to develop treatments that enhance myelin repair in people living with MS – identified as a top research priority in MS Australia’s Research and Advocacy Priorities Survey.
Ms Bethany Nicol’s research aims to uncover how myelin is made in the brain, and how this process can be switched back on after damage. She will study a molecule called Akt, which is known to help myelin-forming cells grow and function.
Using models, she can watch these cells live under a microscope and see when and where Akt is active. She will also test how activating Akt at different stages of cell development affects myelin growth and identify the key molecules it controls.
The goal of this research is to find new, specific targets for future drug development. This knowledge could support the development of therapies that help the brain repair itself and improve outcomes for people with MS.
$80,000
2026
2 years
Current project
