Newsroom
Could a molecule triggered by running help treat MS?
avril 20, 2018
Dr. David Picketts’ team discovered in 2016 that a molecule triggered by running can help repair certain kinds of brain damage in animal models. The molecule, called VGF nerve growth factor inducible, helps heal the protective coating that surrounds and insulates nerves called myelin. Now the team has been awarded $312,000 by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to explore whether this molecule could potentially heal damage to this myelin caused by multiple sclerosis. They plan to uncover the molecular pathway that leads to myelin repair and find out which cells are targeted by VGF. The team will also test whether injections or delivering VGF through the nose can help prompt the repair of myelin in an animal model of MS.
Dr. Picketts’ research is possible because of generous support for Regenerative Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital.
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
