A scientist from the University of Aberdeen is part of an international research team that has received over half a million pounds in new funding to develop the first multiple sclerosis treatment that could repair nerve damage and restore lost function.
The project, led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, has secured £589,972 ($800,000) to accelerate work on a breakthrough therapy with the potential to not just slow MS, but reverse some of its effects, something no existing treatment has achieved.
Scotland has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with around 18,000 people living with the condition.
Dr Iain Greig, Reader in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen, has been involved in the drug discovery programme since its inception in 2014.
He called the therapy “enormous in its potential”.
“Not only could it stop MS progression, but it could actually help repair damaged nerves and restore some functions already lost for people living with MS, something never achieved previously,” said Dr Greig.
MS affects the nervous system by attacking the protective myelin sheath around nerves, leading to symptoms including fatigue, visual disturbances, and mobility problems.
While existing treatments can slow the disease, none can reverse the damage once it’s done.
This new approach targets excitotoxicity, a damaging process that kills nerve cells without affecting normal brain function.
By blocking that mechanism, researchers believe the body can be encouraged to rebuild lost myelin and allow nerves to recover.
In animal trials, the compound has already helped restore movement and repair myelin even after symptoms had developed.
The team is now in the final phase of pre-clinical testing, with a view to preparing for human clinical trials.
Dr Fang Liu, Senior Scientist at CAMH and Professor at the University of Toronto, is the project’s principal investigator.
“Our compound could transform MS treatment,” she said.
“Not just slowing the disease, but helping people regain what they’ve lost.”
The research has been protected by patents in Canada and the UK, and the team is actively seeking industry partners to move toward clinical development.
The new funding comes from a coalition of partners including Brain Canada, the National MS Society’s Fast Forward programme, and Health Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund.
Dr Aristotle Voineskos, Senior Vice President at CAMH, said supporting commercialisation was key to turning research into real-world impact.
“We can accelerate the translation of research into real-world treatments and deliver new hope to people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.
Dr Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada, described the project as “bold, high-impact research that has the potential to change lives”.
Dr Greig added:
“This funding allows us to push this groundbreaking work closer to reality.
“It’s a rare and exciting opportunity to develop a therapy that not only manages symptoms but addresses the root cause of nerve damage.
“I’m grateful for the support and what it could mean for people in Scotland and beyond.”
