MND Scotland funded project to explore crucial aspect of MND

Dr Jenna Gregory (University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Medical Sciences) joins our community of MND Scotland funded researchers, by starting work on her research project ‘Understanding the molecular signature of neuronal-astrocyte-microglia crosstalk in motor neuron disease’.

Research has shown that nerve cells in the brain require the support of other specialised cell types, such as microglia, to function correctly. There is increasing evidence which suggests that if this support network is inadequate or impaired then neurodegenerative diseases, such as motor neuron disease (MND), may occur.

With a particular focus on MND, Jenna’s project aims to investigate the crosstalk (communication) between nerve cells and microglia that occurs when they are in the same environment (instead of investigating the cells separately, as is common). Her goal is to develop a model that will help researchers investigate this potentially crucial aspect of neurodegenerative diseases.

Explaining her journey into MND research, Jenna said: “I recently moved to Aberdeen University to take up this exciting new research post. Before this, I studied medicine at St Andrews University, completed my PhD and medical degree at Cambridge University, and trained as a pathologist and clinical lecturer at Edinburgh University.

“I’ve been fortunate to study under some of the leading researchers in neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, I was very fortunate to have studied under the late Professor Chris Dobson, at Cambridge University. Chris was an incredible mentor and enabled me to develop the skills and confidence to pursue my career ambitions and was an amazing positive role model. Since my move to Aberdeen, I have experienced a great deal of support from my peers and senior colleagues, and I look forward to the exciting research that I will be able to do in this supportive environment.”

Speaking about her motivation for working within MND research, she said: “As a doctor and a researcher, my research has always had a clinical focus. I am very much driven by my want to improve the clinical care that patients receive, and none more so than people with motor neuron disease (MND). It seems so unfair to me that people with MND have such limited treatment options and improving this is something that I am particularly focused on.

In the last decade, Scotland has become a centre of excellence for MND research in the UK and I’m delighted to be part of it, and hope that I can make a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with MND.”

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This can cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided and the average life expectancy is just 18 months from diagnosis.

Providing an overview of her MND Scotland funded research project and what she hopes it will achieve, Jenna said: “Each person living with MND has a very different and unique experience, with symptoms and disease progression varying between individuals. I’m interested in finding molecular markers that could be driving these differences with an emphasis on the role of inflammation in this process. I believe that by studying the factors that contribute to individual differences between people with MND, it will help to identify targets that could be used for diagnosis or to monitor disease progression, or ultimately, identify therapies to improve the outlook for people with ALS.”

Giving thanks to the MND Scotland fundraisers who make such vital research possible, she said: “I am so grateful to the dedicated fundraisers who have enabled this work to be undertaken and affording me the opportunity to set up my own research lab in Aberdeen.

“I also am a keen fundraiser for MND Scotland, and my friends and I run in the Edinburgh Marathon every year to raise funds and awareness for MND. We feel strongly that this is a good cause and that patients benefit, not just from the long-term research strategies of MND Scotland, but also from specialist help afforded to people with MND right now.”

Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research said: “I am delighted that Jenna has joined our community of MND Scotland funded researchers. It is really important to understand the role of non-neuronal cells, such as microglia, in the mechanisms and process that underlie the degeneration seen in motor neuron disease. We hope that approaches such as this may uncover new targets for the development of potential treatments for people with MND”

You can help to fund vital research projects by making a donation here and for more ways to support people across Scotland affected by MND, please visit us here.