Progress in MS Research Conference 2011

MSRA's 2011 Progress in MS Research conference, which took place in Melbourne, in October, was infused with excitement, hope and a very real sense of achievement.

It attracted leading researchers from around Australia and the globe and covered every field of MS research including pathology, experimental therapeutics, clinical and applied research, genetics, epidemiology, stem cells and immune tolerance.

MSRA Research Chairman, Prof Bill Carroll, welcomed delegates and gave an overview of recent advances, including the genetics of MS and the pipeline of new therapies currently in trials. He applauded the Australian MS research community for their enormous contribution to this global progress.

Leading international researchers shared their expertise and results. Dr Bruce Trapp, Lerner Research Institute, presented work on the earliest damage to the grey matter in MS, invisible by MRI, but a significant contributor to symptoms. A/Prof Betty Soliven, University of Chicago, discussed her work on the brain and immune system molecule, S1P receptor, as a target for treatment. A/Prof Sergio Baranzini from University of California San Francisco, shared his studies on the genetics and epigenetics (changes in gene activity) of twin pairs and rare familial cases of MS. Prof Gianvito Martino talked about the current status of research into stem cell therapies for MS, including bone marrow transplantation, and the promising experimental results for neural, mesenchymal and induced pleuripotent stem cells.

There was a notable increase in the number of young scientists attending. Young Investigator Awards went to Nancy Moxey, University of Queensland, for her poster on the role of rare mutations in myelin proteins; and to Steve Simpson Jr Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, for his podium presentation on the influence of interferon-beta and blood levels of vitamin D on relapse risk in MS.

In a final session, key Australian researchers gave their views on where to next. Prof Graeme Stewart presented a road-map suggested by the recent genetic discoveries; Prof Helmut Butzkueven outlined the imminent launch of the vitamin D prevention trial; Dr Mark Slee discussed developments in diagnosing the MS -sister disease, neuromyelitis optica (NMO); and Dr John Parratt reviewed the clues to the origin of MS revealed by studying the earliest signs of pathology in MS brain tissue. Prof Trevor Kilpatrick drew together the threads of the many different areas of MS research and developments in technology that will see us make further progress in the near future.

The conference received media interest and was accompanied by a well-attended public lecture for people with MS and their families. MSRA is proud to have supported a very large proportion of this exciting progress in MS research and looks forward to seeing the rewards of the increased numbers of bright young scientists who are now working to improve our understanding of the disease.