15 Apr Researcher Update: Dr Jessica Fletcher
Recently, a new research project was announced which has the potential to transform multiple sclerosis treatment. This research is led by Dr Jessica Fletcher, who previously received a Brain Foundation research grant in 2021.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common acquired chronic neurological diseases affecting young adults. It is normally diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, and is about three times more common in women than men. In Australia, over 25,000 people are living with MS, with about 2.8 million people diagnosed worldwide.
We spoke to Dr Fletcher to learn about the impact of her Brain Foundation grant, her research focus over the past few years, and what this upcoming project could mean for MS treatment.
A recently announced multiple sclerosis (MS) research project is aiming to help the brain repair itself by activating its existing healing mechanisms.
This research is led by Dr Jessica Fletcher, who previously received a Brain Foundation research grant in 2021. Her Brain Foundation grant was awarded in 2021 to investigate a rare genetic variant linked to familial MS. Her team aimed to characterise the molecular and cellular effects of this genetic variation on different brain cell types, to understand why it causes neurodegeneration and MS.
Now, four years on, Dr Fletcher has received funding from MS Australia to lead this pioneering MS research project at the University of Tasmania. The research will focus on regenerating myelin – the protective coating around nerve fibres that allows efficient communication between the brain and body. The ultimate goal is to develop a treatment for MS that activates existing healing processes in the brain to encourage new myelin growth.
We spoke to Dr Fletcher to discuss her research over the past few years, and what this upcoming project could mean for MS treatment.
BF: What were the key findings from your Brain Foundation research grant?
JF: We found that the genetic variant associated with MS changed how brain cells communicate with each other, and this has implications for how myelin damage, like what occurs in MS, may resolve over time. We think the altered communication between brain cells could lead to the damage getting worse over time, contributing to worsening disability in MS.
BF: In the years since this grant, where has your research taken you? What are the specific questions you hope to answer?
JF: The Brain Foundation grant helped me generate data that supported my fellowship and grant applications. In my fellowship, we’re using the information generated during the Brain Foundation grant to look deeper into what the MS associated genetic variants do in the context of a demyelinating lesion like what happens in multiple sclerosis and whether or not they change the capacity of the brain to repair itself. My team also looks specifically at what happens inside the cells that are responsible for myelin repair and whether we can use the switches that we identify to enhance the brain’s repair mechanisms.
Overall, I have 2 main questions that I focus my research on. The first is asking what happens in the brains of people with MS, that makes them at risk of immune attack and demyelination, and if these processes contribute to disease progression. The second question is if we can stop MS disease progression by promoting brain repair.
BF: Congratulations on your recent funding from MS Australia. Your ultimate goal of developing a treatment that activates existing healing processes in the brain is very exciting. What do you know so far, and what will you be investigating with this new funding to work towards that goal?
JF: We have studied what happens inside healthy brain cells that produce myelin, the protective covering around nerve cells that allows messages to be transmitted through the body. By doing this, we have identified ways certain signals inside these cells are turned on and off, and what we want to do now, is see if we can manipulate these ‘on/off’ switches to make new myelin.
BF: If your hypothesis is correct, how will this change the MS treatment landscape?
JF: We’re hoping that we will be able to use the knowledge we gain to develop very targeted and selective brain repair treatments that have fewer side effects. Our research is the start of a very long road, but the ultimate goal is to make sure our research is used to improve the quality of life for people living with MS.
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Further information and resources
We look forward to hearing more about Dr Fletcher’s research as this project progresses. If you would like to learn more about multiple sclerosis, Dr Fletcher, or any other relevant resources, please see the following pages:
- Multiple sclerosis – overview article
- Does a familial gene variant drive neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis? – Dr Fletcher’s 2021 research grant.
- New MS research harnessing the brain’s healing power – Dr Fletcher’s upcoming research.
- Dr Jessica Fletcher – researcher profile
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The Brain Foundation is dedicated to funding the next generation of Australian research into brain disorders, diseases, and injuries, with the ultimate goal of advancing diagnoses, treatments, and patient outcomes.