Investigating the prevention and rescue of demyelination in the central nervous system

Myelin is an insulating coat that allows key nerve cells, neurons, to better communicate.

However, in conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), myelin gets damaged and lost, which impairs nerve function and can lead to irreversible damage called neurodegeneration. This leads to increasing disability in MS patients, and currently no approved treatments help neurodegeneration.

Recent research revealed that the process of myelin loss might be more complex than previously known; In animal models and MS tissue, myelin is seen to swell prior to being lost1-5. In zebrafish models, this myelin swelling can be reversed and manipulated by drugs.

This led to the question underlying this project: Can myelin swelling be targeted to prevent myelin loss in the first place? First, we need to understand myelin swelling in human MS brain tissue better. Next, using zebrafish models we will work out why myelin swells and how to prevent it. Lastly, using a mouse model that has human myelin, we will try to prevent and rescue the swelling of human myelin.

These studies will help us understand how to improve recovery in conditions such as MS.