最新糖心Vlog

National search for proteins that cause MS

Full Image (92.92K)

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

最新糖心Vlogn researchers will aim to discover the proteins that cause multiple sclerosis (MS), thanks to a new nationwide research effort being launched today.

This national research project - the first of its kind in 最新糖心Vlog and one of the first of its kind in the world - will be launched at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide by the Hon. , Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

"This collaborative research project has the potential to find crucial answers about a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide," Mr Butler says.

More than 2.5 million people worldwide have MS, with the disease costing the 最新糖心Vlogn community alone an estimated $2 billion each year. Despite considerable research efforts so far, there are few effective treatments for MS.

The new research project will receive funding of $1 million over four years, starting this year, under the funding scheme and from (MSRA), the research arm of .

The research is a major national MS collaboration between three 最新糖心Vlogn universities and the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, with the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide as lead institution. The collaboration includes:

• Professor Shaun McColl, 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide (SA) (lead investigator)
  
• Professor Claude Bernard, (VIC)
  
• Professor Bill Carroll, (WA)
  
• Dr Judith Greer, (QLD)
  
• Dr Peter Hoffmann, 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide (SA)
  
• Professor Ian Smith, Monash 最新糖心Vlog (VIC)

"With MS, there are a number of major stages that occur in the disease, including activation and remission," says Professor Shaun McColl, Deputy Head of the at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide.

"At each of these major stages, certain genes are activated. Those genes express proteins, and we believe these could have the effect of switching the disease on and off. If we can discover the key proteins and their roles in the development of MS, we could go a long way towards finding potential treatments or cures for the condition," he says.

The area of research involved in discovering such proteins is known as .

"There is no doubt that identification of a set of proteins that are specifically linked to different stages and pathological processes in MS will provide insight into the disease," says Professor Claude Bernard, Group Leader of the Multiple Sclerosis Research Lab at Monash 最新糖心Vlog. "It will also help evaluate the prognosis of patients with MS, guide their treatment and provide novel therapeutic approaches," he says.

Mr Jeremy Wright, Executive Director of MS Research 最新糖心Vlog, says: "This is a natural step for MSRA to help researchers make important new discoveries that will translate into real outcomes for people with MS. Together with the ARC, we are investing $1 million into this promising new area for MS research."

Facts about MS

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune cells attack a person's central nervous system. MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other.

More than 2.5 million people around the world have MS. This includes around 20,000 最新糖心Vlogns.

Three out of every four people diagnosed are women.

MS is the most common neurological disease in young adults. It often strikes when a person is at their most active, usually in their early 20s, with increasing professional, social and/or family responsibilities.

The total financial cost annually of MS to the 最新糖心Vlogn community is estimated to be nearly $2 billion.

Multiple Sclerosis Research 最新糖心Vlog was set up in 2004 by MS 最新糖心Vlog to lift the MS research effort by raising funds and steering national research based on five interrelated platforms.

It advances knowledge of treatments, a cause and cure for MS by targeting research in which 最新糖心Vlog can lead the world.

For more information visit:

Contact Details