Meet the Researcher

Dr Stephanie Trend

Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science and Telethon Kids Institute, WA

Dr Stephanie Trend is a researcher at the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science and Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia.

Dr Trend loves learning from other scientists and using creative thinking to come up with new ways of investigating problems. She was inspired to get involved in MS research during her undergraduate studies when she became fascinated by the immune system.

About Dr Stephanie Trend

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself
I can play the cello and piano, and one day would love to learn to play the harp.
What inspired you to get involved in MS research?
During my undergraduate studies I became fascinated by the immune system. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to join the community of MS researchers in my postdoctoral research period, and have found it a highly rewarding and challenging job.
What do you think has been the most exciting development in MS research?
The development of therapies that deplete immune cells (such as ocrelizumab) has benefitted patients greatly and has provided important insights for researchers trying to understand the contributions of those immune cells to MS.
Tell us about your current research project
B cells can have a number of important functions, including producing antibodies. Antibodies are small proteins that recognise and bind to specific targets to direct other immune cells how to respond to infections. This project involves using laboratory-made proteins that mimic natural antibodies to identify and study the targets for B cells, including parts of the brain and Epstein-Barr Virus.
Why is your research important and how will it influence the understanding and treatment of MS?
This project aims to identify triggers of B cell activation in people with newly diagnosed MS, which we hope will lead to improved understanding of the disease and mechanisms that underlie MS onset. Identifying the specific targets recognised by B cells in MS may help to diagnose the disease, identify those at higher risk of MS, or develop targeted therapies to be used in future.
What do you enjoy most about working in the lab and what are some of the challenges you face?
I love learning from other scientists and using creative thinking to come up with new ways of investigating problems. It is a challenge to keep up with the ever-changing technologies available to us, but this is also what is so exciting about being a scientist right now.
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Stephanie Trend