Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with no known cause and limited treatment options. In this disease, the myelin sheath, which is the protective insulation surrounding the nerves, is damaged. Oligodendrocytes are cells that are responsible for the production of myelin. Identification of a therapeutic option that will promote the ability of these cells to produce myelin may be a beneficial treatment option. However, there are changes to the environment near the damage, including an abundance of molecules that inhibit oligodendrocyte growth. In order to overcome this block, and promote repair, it is crucial to understand how oligodendrocytes communicate with these inhibitors, and the mechanism driving the stalled repair. The basic building blocks of all cells are dominantly proteins and lipids (fats). To date, the effects of the inhibitory environment on oligodendrocyte proteins have been investigated, but the exploration of lipid involvement is minimal. This work aims to understand how the structures of lipids in the oligodendrocyte are altered by cues in the MS brain with the hopes of developing a method to promote repair in such an inhibitory environment. The goal is to develop a method to promote repair in progressive MS and, ultimately, discover novel therapeutic avenues.