Meet the history makers: An interview with Dr Rebecca Sherrard Smith

We spoke to Rebecca about her very personal reasons for becoming an MS researcher. And how her work using cutting-edge technology is bringing us closer to more targeted treatments for MS.

How did you get into MS research?

I always knew I wanted to do MS research. I studied biology and did a master’s in immunology at the University of Aberdeen. I then did my PhD in Glasgow, researching new treatments for MS. I loved every second of it. Now, I’m continuing my MS research with Professor Anna Williams, in Edinburgh. This has always been my focus, my aim, and now I’m here!

What made you so determined to research MS?

My mum has MS, and so did her sister. My mum was diagnosed with primary progressive MS when I was four or five, and her sister had relapsing remitting MS. So MS has always been a part of my life. 

I grew up caring for my mum and I loved science, so I just thought: “you can be active in fixing this”. I went to university knowing that’s what I wanted to do.

Can you tell us a bit about your research?

I’m using a cutting-edge new technique to look at the cells that make myelin in incredible detail. This lets me create a detailed map, showing which individual cells are sending which messages. I’m using this method to understand how different cells in the brain respond to damage in mice with an MS-like condition. This advanced technology can pinpoint exactly where and how brain cells are affected by MS.

This technology didn’t exist a few years ago. And now we can analyse changes in the brain at a single-cell level, and even see exactly where they’re happening. It’s incredible.

This work can help us to understand the underlying causes of MS and pave the way for more targeted treatments. I'll also be able to share all the information with other researchers who are studying different cells in the brain.

What changes have you seen in MS research in your lifetime?

Unfortunately, mum and her sister were diagnosed at a time when there were no disease modifying treatments – just symptom management. The field has come such a long way since then. Although we don’t have a cure, there are so many more treatment options. There’s also been a huge leap in our understanding of the role of things like vitamin D and Epstein-Barr virus in MS.

There’s been a major focus on relapsing remitting MS. But now that we have so many disease modifying treatments, there's been a shift in focus towards progressive MS, remyelination and nerve regeneration. And something that I'm really excited about is the Octopus trial. Using drugs that have already been approved for other conditions cuts so much red tape and offers so much hope for people living with progressive MS.

There’s also been a shift in the way we approach research. The field has become so much more collaborative. The early career researcher community is amazing. We share ideas, collaborate and support each other. We share the same goal so there’s no competition.

We’re making incredible progress. In years to come, I hope we can all look back and say “we were part of history, we stopped MS”.

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