Uncovering Genetic Mechanisms in MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$50,000
Affiliation(s)
Western University
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Ontario
Research Priorities
Cause of MS
Impact Goal(s)
Prevent MS
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Researcher(s): Parisa Shooshtari 

Summary:

  • Over 200 genetic variants have been associated with increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). However, how these genetic variants contribute to disease development is not well understood. 
  • Dr. Parisa Shooshtari and team aim to uncover the underlying genetic mechanisms in specific immune cells that may lead to MS. 
  • This research will provide insights into the contribution of genetics and specific immune cells in the earliest events that lead to MS, laying the groundwork for future studies.

Project Description: 
A combination of genetic and environmental factors play a role in the onset of MS. Currently, there are over 200 genetic variants associated with an increased risk of developing MS but how these variants contribute to disease is not well understood.

Dr. Parisa Shooshtari and team aim to investigate how these genetic variants are involved in MS disease development. They hypothesize that MS is driven by changes in how genes are turned on or off in specific immune cells leading to altered immune activity. The team will investigate publicly available datasets of MS genetic variants collected from more than 47,000 people with MS and link this information to immune cell activity. They will integrate expertise in genomics, immunology, computational analysis, and statistics to uncover new information about the disease processes in MS.

Potential Impact: This study will provide a better understanding of the early events that lead to MS and provide a foundation for future studies to answer the question of why some people get MS.

Project Status: In Progress