News MS Society Awards Almost $220K to Research into Myelin Repair and Renewal MS Society Awards Almost $220K to Research into Myelin Repair and Renewal by Patricia Silva, PhD | October 18, 2016 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link The MS SocietyĀ in the United Kingdom awarded Ā£177,930 (about $217,800) to Dr.Ā Sassan Hafizi, a researcher at University of Portsmouth, to investigate the potentially beneficial role of a central nervous system molecule,Ā called Gas6, in repairingĀ the myelin damage seen in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) . Hafizi and Dr. Arthur Butt, a professor of cellular neurophysiology at the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, have previously shown thatĀ Gas6 may be a regulator of myelination in the brain, promoting myelin remodeling and repair both by increasing the number of oligodendrocytes in the centralĀ nervous system and by reducing immune system responses so as to prevent further damage. In this project, Hafizi will examine the workingsĀ of Gas6 in mice with an MS-like condition, and investigate ways to target Gas6 in an effort toĀ boost the brain’s natural myelin repair process. āI am delighted that the MS Society has made this substantial award to support my research, which ultimately could help scientists develop new treatments to slow or even stop the worsening of the disability that results from nerve damage,” saidĀ Hafizi in a news release.Ā āCurrently there are no treatments available to help repair damage caused by MS, which makes this research all the more urgent.ā This is the second project that the MS Society has funded at the University of Portsmouth within the past year. Dr. Butt was also awarded Ā£198,196 (around $242,600) to investigate the role of a molecule called GSK3 in the creation ofĀ myelin sheaths around nerves. āThis is wonderful news, and a reflection of the exceptional work carried out by our researchers in this highly specialised area,” saidĀ Professor Sabbir Ahmed, head of the biomedical sciences school. āThe award is especially significant as itās unprecedented for two investigators in the same university ā outside the main MS research centres of Edinburgh and Cambridge ā to have independently gained funding from the MS Society.ā Dr. Sorrel Bickley, head of Biomedical Research at the MS Society, added: āThe MS Society is very pleased to support the excellent research into MS being done at the University of Portsmouth. Developing treatments that promote myelin repair is a priority for us and we believe Dr. Sassan Hafiziās study of Gas6 is a promising area of research.ā He added: āMore than 100,000 people are living with MS in the UK. Itās unpredictable and different for everyone but can cause problems with how people walk, move, see, think and feel. The MS Society invests over Ā£4 million in research each year and weāre committed to developing effective treatments for all forms of MS.ā Affecting up to 2.5 million people worldwide, MS is a neurodegenerative condition caused by damage to oligodendrocytes, the specialized myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system,Ā impairing normal electrical impulse transmission between nerves. As the disease progresses, myelin repair becomes less efficient and damage accumulates, preventing nerves from functioning properly. Print This Page About the Author Patricia Silva, PhD PatrĆcia holds a PhD in medical microbiology and infectious diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal. Her work in academia was mainly focused on molecular biology and the genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites. PatrĆcia earned several travel awards to present her work at international scientific meetings. She is a published author of several peer-reviewed science articles. Tags central nervous system, MS Society, myelination, United Kingdom
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