Meet The Researcher

I enjoy trying out new creative designy-type activities. Recently I have gotten into the art of bonsai. I enjoy the creativity and calmness that comes with shaping and looking after them. I currently have five, but I’ve been trying to hold myself back from getting more since they take some time to look after.

I had previously heard of Multiple sclerosis (MS) but didn’t do any further research on it until my master’s degree where Dr Steven Petratos presented his research in one of the units I undertook. His talk captivated my interest which led me to undertake my project in his lab where the more I learnt about MS, the more intrigued I became. Learning about the devastating effects and struggles of everyday activities of individuals living with MS motivated me to pursue a PhD so I could hopefully help these individuals.

From the widespread use of disease modifying treatments (DMT) to identifying genes, environmental and lifestyle factors that contribute to MS have been exciting to learn about. By having all the different DMTs available and a better understanding of the factors, treatment for individuals can be more tailored which is excellent as the development and progression of MS are unique to everyone. Although there is still a long way to go, I am excited to see how the research progresses in the next decade!

Many factors contribute to the degeneration and loss of myelin around nerve fibres that occurs during MS, leading to disease progression. My project focuses on a protein that partakes in inhibiting the repair of myelin, leading to the degeneration of nerve fibres in MS. This protein is also present in the myelin debris formed due to immune attacks. This study utilises a new method to deliver a modified version of this protein with a mechanism that also helps remove the myelin debris in an animal model of MS. Furthermore, it will explore the effects of this therapeutic on certain immune cells that partake in the immune attacks in MS.

Current therapeutics in MS are good at targeting the inflammatory nature of the disease to limit the immune attacks on central nervous system (CNS) myelin. Despite their effectiveness in blunting the relapse rate in MS patients, they are limited in stopping disease progression. Research looking at therapeutics that help repair the damage from the immune attacks and removal of debris is crucial to treating MS. This can potentially improve the quality of life and limit disability in patients, particularly those with progressive MS where the damage is prominent. Furthermore, it could contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that are in play during MS progression.

What I enjoy the most about working in the lab is that it opens you up to meeting a whole new world of different individuals from different walks of life. Everyone’s willingness to share the knowledge gained from their unique experiences makes me so grateful to be a part of the community. A major challenge I face is having patience with myself. With research, I feel like my mind is running in so many different directions because there are so many things I want to do in a limited amount of time.