A new Australian study is asking a deceptively simple question: what happens before multiple sclerosis begins? The answer, researchers believe, may lie in our DNA and in how the immune system responds to a virus nearly everyone carries.
Led by Dr David Stacey at the University of South Australia, the project is the first of its kind in the world to apply a technique known as “recall by genotype” to MS research. It is being funded by MS Australia as part of its 2025 Incubator Grant round, which supports experimental ideas that could reshape how the disease is understood.
Rather than comparing people who already have MS with those who don’t, this study recruits healthy individuals based on whether they carry a high or low genetic risk of developing the disease. The aim is to examine how their immune systems respond to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus most people carry, and one that has been consistently linked to MS development.
“It’s like studying the immune system’s blueprint before the disease starts,” said Dr Stacey. “By focusing on those at different levels of genetic risk before symptoms appear, we hope to spot early changes that explain who develops MS and why.”
EBV, best known for causing glandular fever, has long been in the spotlight of MS research. While infection is extremely common, only a small fraction of those infected ever develop MS. What separates them? This study will compare immune and viral response markers between high-risk and low-risk individuals to try and uncover that difference.
One long-term hope is that the research will identify early biological indicators that MS is beginning to develop. This could open the door to earlier detection, treatment, and possibly even prevention. But there is another layer too. The project will explore the ethical questions that arise when people are selected for research based on their genes.
“How do you tell someone they’ve been invited to take part in a study because their DNA puts them at higher risk of a disease they don’t yet have?” Dr Stacey asked. “We want to make sure people understand what that means and that their participation is fully informed.”
This project is one of four supported through MS Australia’s 2025 Incubator Grants, which aim to nurture bold thinking and early-stage science. According to Dr Tennille Luker, Head of Research at MS Australia, this kind of early support often sparks big leaps.
“Our Incubator Grants are all about backing new ideas,” she said. “And they work. Every dollar we invest brings in an average of $27 in further funding from other national and international sources.”
Australia is home to more than 33,000 people living with MS, a number that continues to rise. While treatment options have expanded, there is still no cure. MS Australia says its mission is to fund research across all aspects of the disease, from cause and treatment to quality of life and prevention.
CEO Rohan Greenland says backing projects like Dr Stacey’s is part of a long-term strategy. “We’re investing in brilliant researchers and ambitious science,” he said. “That’s how breakthroughs happen.”
Alongside Dr Stacey’s project, the 2025 Incubator Grant round is supporting three other early-stage investigations that could change how MS is tracked, understood, and treated.
Dr Alastair Fortune from the Menzies Institute in Tasmania is studying brain vascular cells known as pericytes. While often overlooked, these cells help regulate blood flow and talk to immune cells. His team wants to know if they behave differently in people with MS, and whether they might be part of how the disease starts.
“Pericytes are like silent partners in the brain,” said Dr Fortune. “We’re learning they may play a bigger role in MS than previously thought.”
Meanwhile, wearable tech is entering the picture. Another Menzies researcher, Dr Laura Laslett, is testing how well smartwatches and an app called MySymptoMS can monitor sleep and symptoms in real-world conditions. Sleep disturbance is common in MS, but traditional tools don’t always capture it well.
“We’re trying to make sure we’re using tools that work for the people living with the disease,” said Dr Laslett.
The final project, led by Dr Monokesh Sen at the University of Sydney, is looking into how the body might repair itself. His team is studying tiny biological packages released by immune cells, called extracellular vesicles, to see if they could help restore damaged myelin in the brain. Current treatments focus on stopping inflammation but don’t help with repairing the damage that MS causes.
“We’re asking whether these natural messengers could help regenerate myelin and protect nerve cells,” said Dr Sen. “It’s early days, but the potential is exciting.”
While each project takes a different angle, all four reflect the same guiding principle: curiosity backed by careful science. Whether through decoding genetic risk, examining under-studied brain cells, tracking symptoms with smart tech, or testing new repair pathways, the 2025 Incubator Grant round is looking ahead.
MS Australia says its approach is about planting seeds. Some may take years to bear fruit, but history suggests a few may spark breakthroughs that change the trajectory of MS.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
