MSWA Bulletin Summer 16

AN UPDATE ON THE MSWA FUNDED
WA RESEARCH PROJECTS
SUE SHAPLAND RN, BN
In 2015 MSWA allocated approximately $500,000 of our
$2 million+ research funding commitment, specifically for
WA projects. We committed to support three Postdoctoral
research fellowships and two Social and Applied projects in
WA for a two-year period.
Here we provide an update from two of the researchers.
Dr Anderson Jones (PhD) MSWA Postdoctoral Research
Fellow Telethon Research Institute
Expanding on the PhoCIS (using UV light to increase vitamin
D to try and prevent conversion to MS) project looking at the
mechanisms by which UV affects the immune system and
contributes towards finding a way to stop progression of MS.
Blood samples have been collected from 18 more patients
with Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) as well as 14 patients
with other acute/active demyelinating conditions and healthy
controls. Having immune cell samples from these three
different populations helps identify what changes are specific
to CIS/MS. In addition to immune cells, we have recently also
analysed patient serum samples for Epstein-Barr virus and
vitamin D – two strong risk factors for MS.
Anderson has run approximately two thirds of the samples,
with strong hints of significant and new findings. Once the
remaining samples are analysed the results will be written up
in a paper and submitted for publication.
Anderson has also presented at the annual MSWA Members
MS Awareness Week Forum in June and at an International
Conference.
Dr Lucinda Black (PhD) MSWA Postdoctoral Research
Fellow; School of Public Health, Curtin University
Investigating dietary factors and the risk of multiple sclerosis.
Exploring patterns of food intake, intake of specific foods and
nutrients and whether they contribute to the risk of MS.
Lucinda travelled to the US and undertook training in analysis
of data from the MS Sunshine Study and began conducting
statistical analysis of the dietary intake data.
Lucinda is working with students to analyse data from the
Ausimmune Study and the MS Sunshine Study in relation to
the following topics: dietary patterns and risk of MS, meat
consumption and risk of MS, antioxidant intake and risk of
MS, common dietary changes made by people with MS.
Lucinda has also received detailed and tailored advice
from international experts in how to address her research
questions using the most up-to-date statistical methods.
The skills she developed will be invaluable for high-quality
analysis of dietary data from the Ausimmune Study and the
MS Sunshine Study.
Lucinda presented at the annual MSWA Members MS
Awareness Week Forum and has attended national and
international conferences.
MSWA BULLETIN SUMMER 2016 | 13