Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the body attacks itself by the immune system, which is made up of white blood cells. MS is highly prevalent in Canada, affecting about 1 in 400 individuals. Lesions formed in the brain and spinal cord lead to debilitating symptoms and are visualized by specialized imaging. Treatments which improve quality of life for persons with MS exist and are more effective if started early. Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) can be considered a pre-symptomatic MS, however not every individual with RIS will progress to MS. Current testing approaches are lacking to determine which pwRIS will likely develop MS. The proposed study will address this limitation by looking at the blood samples of individuals with RIS and MS. Any unique traits between samples of persons with RIS and MS may lead to the development of a blood test allowing doctors to better treat individuals with RIS. We will do this by evaluating the characteristics of these immune cells from the blood, which may provide insight on early stages of MS. Characteristics such as what these cells produce, how they behave and how they "look like" will then be compared to images of the brain from the same individuals, allowing for the link to current tests done in the clinic. Clear, accessible, and consistent methods to determine if pwRIS will progress to MS are currently lacking and will greatly benefit patients and doctors by allowing for the early treatment leading to better quality of life.