Meet The Researcher

As a lover of music, my most significant discovery in the past year has been finding out my 2 year old son can sing perfectly in tune!

Through my role as the Multiple Sclerosis Fellow at the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, I was exposed to, and invited to join in on, a number of different clinical trials and basic science research on MS. This exposure, and my enjoyment of MRI neuroimaging, inspired me to conceive of the idea of looking for neuroimaging change in progressive multiple sclerosis patients where none had been seen before.

I think the most exciting development in MS research has actually been a methodological shift in how research collaboration is organised. Several new initiatives, directed at progressive MS, have been organised worldwide into effective teams, working in harmony across different labs and different countries, so as to move efficiently toward better understanding and treatment of progressive MS.

This research is important as it will give insights into why people with progressive multiple sclerosis continue to deteriorate with disability. This study will contribute to the understanding of how and what pattern brain cells die at a faster rate in multiple sclerosis. It is hoped that knowledge gained from this study could be used as a marker of effectiveness of future medications in clinical drug trials, allowing faster and more efficient trials.

My research requires the collaboration of many people with different expertise including neurologists, study coordinators, neuroscientists, MRI scientists and computer engineers. Working with all of these people is a dynamic and enriching experience. Gaining insights from expert collaborators has allowed me to face the challenges around adapting novel MRI research techniques to multiple sclerosis.