Grant: Project Grant

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common and progressive disease characterized by physical and mental disabilities at the peak of life. MS can lead to inability to work, chronic pain, social isolation and shorter lifespan. Canada, especially Alberta, has among the highest rates of MS in the world. MS affects 3 times as many women as men. The cause of MS is unknown, although both environmental and genetic factors have been connected to MS. Our overarching goal is to understand the fundamental disease processes that drive the progression of MS. With that understanding, we can develop new ways to diagnose and treat MS. The knowledge that we gain from these studies can also be applied to other progressive brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's diseases. MS is defined by progressive loss of the insulating material (myelin) around the electricity-conducting structures (axons) in our brain and spinal cord. The eventual result is that the axons die, like cutting a wire that carries electricity. This destructive process is driven by inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. That inflammation reflects the immune system's rogue attack on the body during MS. Our group is working to understand why the axons and the myelin-producing cells die in people with MS. To identify the mechanisms of MS, we will examine tissues from the brains and spinal cords of people who had MS. We will use cells grown in the lab and animal models to check these processes and discover new treatments. We will examine specific genes and factors in the environment that dictate a distinct type of cell death in MS called pyroptosis or 'fiery death.' We can apply our team's broad expertise in MS using novel research resources: archived human brain tissues, unique lab samples of human brain cells, brain-imaging devices, and artificial intelligence tools.