Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the brain and spinal cord. Even with modern treatments, many people with MS continue to get worse over time because of hidden inflammation in the brain that current therapies cannot fully control. Almost everyone with MS has been infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the very common virus that causes "mono." EBV stays in the body for life by hiding inside immune cells called B cells. Our research shows that in MS, EBV can "switch on" inside certain B cells, turning them into a more harmful form. These cells are unusually active, travel more easily into the brain, and seem to fuel ongoing inflammation. We also found that signs of EBV activity in these B cells appear just before new brain lesions show up on MRI scans. The goal of our work is to understand how EBV changes these B cells and whether removing them can stop MS from getting worse. By studying patient samples with advanced single-cell tools, we hope to discover better tests to track hidden disease activity and to identify new treatment targets. This research could lead to more precise care, better monitoring, and ultimately new ways to slow or stop MS progression.