Summary

MS is an autoimmune-driven neurological disease. Whilst a number of treatment options exist, none of them are able to cure the disease. To overcome this bottleneck new therapies are required.

Dr Christopher Siatskas’ research will combine novel immune regeneration and gene therapy approaches, aimed at purging culprit autoimmune cells that are responsible for the development of MS.

A rational approach for the treatment and cure of autoimmune diseases such as MS requires incorporation of three fundamental processes: suppression of the inflammatory response, restoration of the immune system's tolerance to self ("self-tolerance") and regeneration of the target cells or tissues. Current clinical practice at best addresses the first problem but there are no clear strategies for the other two.

Given that all available treatments for MS offers patients only partial relief from symptoms, the significance of these regenerative and gene therapy-based approach to re-establish immune tolerance provides a genuine opportunity to develop a more targeted strategy to permanently eliminate rogue immune cells that are at the fulcrum of the pathogenic process and reverse autoimmune disease.

This research will also elucidate cellular mechanisms used to establish tolerance, which may offer new insight into the disease process. The results will provide important information that may be translated into the clinic.