NR Times reports on seven innovative projects changing the outlook for multiple sclerosis.
MS is a complex and unpredictable autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, affecting millions of people worldwide.
The condition was previously deemed untreatable but over the last 20 years huge strides have been made in understanding MS, its causes and potential treatments.
In recent months, ongoing efforts continue to deepen our comprehension of the condition, from EBV vaccine breakthroughs to the discovery of genetic variants responsible for speeding up MS progression.
Unlocking the genetic clue to faster MS progression
Researchers have discovered a genetic variant that hastens the progression of MS, offering fresh insights into the debilitating condition.
This study, encompassing over 22,000 people living with MS, has identified a genetic variation nestled between two genes typically active within the brain and spinal cord. One of these genes plays a pivotal role in repairing damaged cells, while the other is crucial in controlling viral infections.
Published in Nature in late June, the research was the outcome of a vast international collaboration involving over 70 institutions worldwide, spearheaded by researchers from UCSF and the University of Cambridge.
Dr. Sergio Baranzini, a neurology professor at UCSF and co-senior author of the study, notes that inheriting this genetic variant from both parents accelerates the need for a walking aid by nearly four years.
The study amalgamates data from over 12,000 MS patients in a genome-wide association study, pinpointing a genetic variant associated with an expedited disease progression.
Given its proximity to genes involved in nervous system repair and viral infection control, it underscores the pivotal connection between the nervous system and MS progression.
Genetic clues could help to progress MS treatment.
Vaccine breakthrough could protect against EBV virus
Researchers at QIMR Berghofer have developed an innovative vaccine candidate that shows potent and enduring immune protection against Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in pre-clinical models.
EBV, part of the herpes virus family, is linked to diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and various cancers. This vaccine approach targets EBV during both acute and latent infections, potentially complementing ATA188, an advanced Phase 2 clinical therapy for MS.
The study’s findings indicate the vaccine’s potential to provide long-term EBV protection, which could be a crucial step in preventing MS and other EBV-related diseases.
Further work in EBV and MS
Meanwhile, an EU-funded research project is set to uncover the role of the Epstein-Barr virus MS development and progression.
Led by Professor Kjell-Morten Myhr and Professor Øivind Torkildsen, the team aims to understand why only a minority of EBV-infected individuals develop MS and to define the underlying mechanisms.
They will also explore the potential of antiviral treatments to improve MS outcomes and potentially halt disease progression, with the ultimate goal of developing preventive strategies like vaccination.
The project involves clinical trials, blood and saliva sample analysis, and registry-based research, drawing on a multidisciplinary team of experts. It holds the potential to advance MS treatments, identify high-risk individuals, and provide mechanistic evidence for EBV’s role in MS development.
EBV infection significantly increases the MS risk, and this research offers hope for a better understanding and potential prevention of the disease.
Bringing AI into the treatment journey
Another EU initiative, Clinical Impact Through AI-assisted MS Care (CLAIMS), is set to receive nearly €10 million to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based platform for predicting the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) in individual patients.
The project will offer a holistic overview of MS patients, from diagnosis to treatment recommendations.
By leveraging diverse patient data, including test results and other health information, the platform will predict how a patient’s MS might progress with different treatments.
The initiative aims to personalise MS treatment by developing predictive models and involving patients in their care. CLAIMS will utilise algorithms trained on clinical data, including MRI scans and blood tests, and plans to factor in comorbidities and patient-reported data.
Ultimately, the project seeks to improve the quality of life and prognosis for people with MS.
Reversing autoimmune diseases with groundbreaking “inverse vaccine”
Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a groundbreaking “inverse vaccine” that could potentially reverse autoimmune diseases such as MS and type 1 diabetes.
Unlike traditional vaccines, this novel approach erases the immune system’s memory of specific molecules instead of teaching it to attack them.
By mimicking the liver’s natural process of marking molecules with “do not attack” flags, the vaccine prevents autoimmune reactions to cells that die naturally.
This innovative method successfully halted autoimmune reactions in a multiple-sclerosis-like disease in animal models. Phase I trials are already underway for multiple sclerosis.
Motion Detection Tool Boosts Progressive MS Research
Clinicians and researchers at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have developed an innovative motion detection tool to advance treatments for progressive MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
In collaboration with the University of Leeds, the tool employs 3D motion technology to monitor upper limb function in patients as they interact with objects.
An evaluation led by Linford Fernandes, a clinical research fellow at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, demonstrated the tool’s ability to detect dysfunction progression earlier than current clinical methods.
The tool offers applications in research trials and clinical settings, providing insights into arm function for rehabilitation and benefiting various neurodegenerative conditions like motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s.
It will be utilised in the Octopus trial, aimed at expediting the testing of new progressive MS treatments.
The new world of cerebral organoids
A relatively recent development in the field, cerebral organoids have redefined MS research.
Dr. Nicolas Daviaud from the Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center in New York is at the forefront of this work.
By crafting cerebral organoids from patient cells, researchers can delve into patient-specific genetics.
These organoids mirror early human brain development, enabling the exploration of genetic factors in MS onset, including interactions with environmental triggers like viral infections, promising new therapeutic avenues.
Cerebral organoids offer a superior representation of the human brain compared to traditional cultures.
They house various organ-specific cell types, mimicking the brain’s structure and function. This makes them invaluable for studying MS and other neurological disorders.
Despite challenges like variability and the absence of immune cells, organoid research is progressing rapidly.
Over the last decade, organoid applications have expanded to various organs and even transplantation experiments, offering exciting possibilities for biomedical research and personalised treatments.
