Mending myelin: orchestrating brain repair in MS
From Peter Crooks
views
comments
From Peter Crooks
In her inaugural lecture Professor Anna Williams discusses how studying human MS brain tissue and laboratory models of remyelination can increase our understanding of how this repair process works and why it fails. In multiple sclerosis there is damage to the myelin sheaths of nerves (demyelination) which reduces the ability of nerves to conduct electricity and makes them prone to degeneration.
The brain can regenerate the myelin sheath (remyelination) which restores electrical conduction and protects the nerves. However, in people with multiple sclerosis, this repair system fails and we do not understand why.
Professor Williams discusses how studying human multiple sclerosis brain tissue and laboratory models of remyelination can increase our understanding of how this repair process works and why it fails. Understanding this better may lead to new therapies to improve remyelination and reduce disability in multiple sclerosis.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a “Recognised body” which has been granted degree awarding powers.
Any views expressed within media held on this service are those of the contributors, should not be taken as approved or endorsed by the University, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University in respect of any particular issue.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2021 and may only be used in accordance with the terms of the licence.