Meet The Researcher

This is probably the hardest question… I speak fluent French because I was born in Quebec, and keep up my language skills by reading French novels and watching French movies.

I am fascinated by the brain and how so many different cell types work together to produce such a complex organ. MS is a devastating example of what goes wrong when normal communication and interactions between cells break down. I believe that my research will not only contribute to finding a cure for MS, but will also help us understand how our brains work, and make the world a better place.

In the last few years, there has been a real paradigm change in the way that we understand the brain: it is not an isolated organ, but is deeply influenced by other systems (e.g. the microbiome, the immune system…) and also by the environment. This means that there are many new and exciting strategies that can be tested to treat and potentially cure MS. The field of research has become incredibly creative, pushing the boundaries of current technology and knowledge.

A key feature of multiple sclerosis is the death of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells in the brain and spinal cord that are crucial for normal brain activity. My colleague Professor Kaylene Young and I recently demonstrated that a form of brain stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves the survival of newborn oligodendrocytes and encourages remyelination. This is exciting because rTMS is non-invasive, has no serious side effects, and has shown promising outcomes in a preliminary clinical trial. In this project, we carry out a series of experiments in brain cell cultures that will allow us to understand the mechanisms whereby rTMS promotes the survival of and myelination by oligodendrocytes. The results will guide the design and optimisation of treatment parameters that can be tested in a future clinical trial to improve outcomes for people with MS.

My research is important because it aims to understand how the brain works, and what goes wrong in MS. This basic knowledge is necessary if we are to understand, treat and eventually prevent MS. I believe that this will be possible in the future thanks to the excellent research going on around the world (especially the projects supported by MS Australia!)

I love working in the lab because every day is different. It’s also incredibly satisfying to design experiments that no one else has done before and generate new knowledge that can potentially improve human health.