Despite the availability of treatments to manage symptoms and slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), there is still a critical gap in understanding the chronic autoimmune disease at a molecular level.

Dr. Deepak Kaushik, an assistant professor of immunology at Memorial University, has received a grant of $1,155,150 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to continue his research into the key mechanisms driving the progression of MS.

MS is characterized by the immune system attacking the body, leading to inflammation and increased disease pathology over time. Dr. Kaushik's research focuses on immunometabolism, studying how immune cells use and manage energy.

By adjusting how immune cells use glucose in animal models, Dr. Kaushik has been able to reduce inflammation and decrease brain damage, which in turn lessens MS-like pathology.

The CIHR grant will support Dr. Kaushik's study on a specific protein to determine its effect on MS pathogenesis when deleted from immune cells in the blood and brain. The goal is to find potential therapies targeting these proteins for MS treatment.

Dr. Kaushik is also investigating why MS affects more women than men, with women being three times more likely to develop the disease. By comparing male and female mice and patient samples, his team aims to uncover sex-based differences in how immune cells rely on glucose for energy.

Since joining Memorial University in 2021, Dr. Kaushik has made significant progress in MS research, attracting funding from various organizations and contributing to institutional research collaborations supported by CIHR. His team of young trainees has been instrumental in driving the research forward.

Securing CIHR funding for his lab is a major milestone for Dr. Kaushik, providing the resources needed to hire personnel and conduct high-throughput experiments. This funding not only sets the foundation for future programs but also enhances Memorial's research reputation and paves the way for training the next generation of scientists.

Dr. Kaushik's grant is a testament to the success and potential of MS research at Memorial University, putting the institution on the map and attracting attention to their groundbreaking work in the field.