Meet the history makers: Yan Ting NG (Nelson)
Nelson is a PhD student at the MS Society Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair. We spoke to him about history-defining moments in MS research and how his own work could help stop MS.
How did you get into MS research?
I’m originally from Hong Kong, where MS is far less common than in the UK. Before I came to study in Cambridge, I hadn’t met many people with MS. However, I knew that MS is quite different from other neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, as it impacts people earlier in life.
When I met people with MS through the MS Society, I learned about how the condition can impact people and even change their life plans.
I hope fewer people are affected by MS in the future. That’s why I’m doing my work – to stop MS and create a better world.
What do you think are the most history-defining moments in MS research so far?
It’s hard to pick because there have been some huge achievements!
It all started in the 19th century when neurologist Jean Martin-Charcot named MS as a condition. He was the first person to diagnose someone with MS, and identify some of its common symptoms. This meant MS could be researched in detail – and ultimately led to the understanding of MS we have today.
For example, in the 1930’s scientist Thomas Rivers made a key discovery. He identified that in MS the immune system attacks myelin, the protective coating around our nerves.
What does that mean for MS research now?
Thanks to this research we’ve known we need to suppress immune attacks, and promote myelin repair to stop MS. We now have lots of drugs which can reduce immune attacks, so attention is turning to find treatments that can help myelin repair.
More recently, researchers found a drug called clemastine could promote myelin repair in mice. That was game-changing. Because now we’re thinking – OK we could potentially repair myelin with a pill.
Now the MS Society is funding the CCMR2 trial which is testing whether clemastine, in combination with metformin, can repair myelin in people with relapsing MS.
Read more about the CCMR2 trial
How does your work tie into this?
I work in the lab, looking at a type of brain cell called an oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC). They have channels which receive messages from the brain. These messages tell OPCs to transform into cells that can repair myelin – called oligodendrocytes.
I’m looking at these channels to see if we could tweak them to boost myelin repair. It’s the first time we’ve studied these channels in such detail.
We hope to find out whether we could potentially target them with drugs - this could open up another new way to encourage myelin repair.
What does it mean to you to work with the MS Society?
I feel really supported. Especially after joining the Early Career Research Network – it’s enabled me to connect with MS researchers from different universities. Conversations like - “What are you doing?” “Okay, I’m doing this, what do you think?” can identify blind spots in our research and potentially spark collaborations. Working together we have more resource to stop MS sooner.
Research will stop MS. Be part of history by donating today.
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