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Research on repairing MS damage gets $300,000 grant


June 2, 2017


Dr. Rashmi Kothary was awarded $300,000 from the MS Society of Canada to investigate a molecule that may be preventing repair of the damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). During MS the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulation that protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, known as myelin. Over time the body loses its ability to repair this damage. Dr. Kothary’s team previously discovered a small RNA molecule that helps control myelin production. The molecule, called MiR-145, keeps progenitor cells from becoming myelin-producing cells. The team thinks that high levels of this molecule at sites of MS damage could be preventing myelin repair. The researchers plan to explore the pathways this molecule is involved in, and determine how it can be manipulated to increase myelin production and recovery. They hope to one day target MiR-145 as a potential therapy for MS.

Co-investigator: Samantha Kornfeld

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Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
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ambuchanan@ohri.ca