Can we selectively target myelin repair?

Dr Jessica Fletcher’s research focuses on finding ways to repair the brain in MS, where current treatments cannot fully stop disease progression. This project aims to boost the activity of myelin-producing cells, called oligodendrocytes, to encourage new myelin growth.

Dr Fletcher’s team will look for specific molecules inside oligodendrocytes that play a role in the myelin repair process. They will focus on a key molecule called Olig2, which controls whether a cell can make myelin and how much it will produce. By adjusting the activity of Olig2, the team hopes to stimulate myelin regeneration.

The goal is to develop precise treatments that target only the cells involved in myelin repair, avoiding other parts of the body.

This approach could lead to more effective and safer therapies to repair myelin in people with MS.