These projects aim to improve our understanding of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare and progressive neurological condition, and to find better ways to diagnose and treat it earlier.
1. Professor Jalesh Panicker – University College London
Professor Panicker is studying whether MRI scans of the lower spine can help predict which people with a condition called Pure Autonomic Failure (PAF) might go on to develop MSA. PAF affects the automatic functions of the body, like blood pressure and bladder control. Some people with PAF later develop MSA, so being able to spot this early through scans could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
2. Professor Nigel Hoggard – University of Sheffield
Professor Hoggard is using advanced MRI scans to look at how well the brain’s mitochondria are working in people with MSA. Mitochondria are like tiny batteries inside cells that provide energy. In MSA, a protein called alpha-synuclein builds up in certain brain cells (called glial cells), which may damage them. This study will see if mitochondrial problems can be detected before the protein builds up, using a special MRI technique that measures phosphorus levels in the brain. For participants, the scan will feel like a regular MRI.
3. Dr Viorica Chelban – University College London
Dr Chelban is continuing her work to find a biomarker for MSA. A biomarker is something measurable – like a blood test result – that can clearly confirm a diagnosis. She’s working with international researchers to improve a lab test that detects misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins, which are linked to MSA. She’s also studying the genetics of MSA using a method called Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), which looks for genetic differences between people with and without MSA. The goal is to combine genetic and biomarker data to offer more personalized care in the future.
4. Dr Maria Xilouri – Biomedical Research Foundation, Athens
Dr Xilouri is focusing on a process in the body called the autophagy lysosome pathway (ALP). This is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged or misfolded proteins which accumulate in the brains of people with MSA. Her research will explore whether this system works differently in people with MSA compared to those without the condition. If the ALP is not working properly, it might contribute to the build-up of harmful proteins in the brain.
5. Dr Conceição Bettencourt – UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
Dr Bettencourt is investigating how changes in DNA, iron, and fats might play a role in MSA. She’s particularly interested in DNA methylation, a chemical tag that helps control which genes are turned on or off. Abnormal methylation may affect brain cells called oligodendrocytes, which are damaged in MSA. Her team will study brain tissue to understand these changes better and will also look at fats in blood samples to see if they could help track disease progression or aid in early diagnosis.