Advancing MS genetics research

Multi-omics research refers the integrated analysis of complementary data sets obtained from different parts of cell biology, including DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and fats. The MS Research Flagship‘s work in this field has demonstrated far-reaching impacts, leading to a better understanding of MS disease biology and revealing potential clinically relevant insights (e.g., biomarker identification).

The team have discovered 39 novel proteins that are implicated in MS. This work was recognised among the top 3 clinical research papers from the Menzies Institute in 2022, and the best oral presentation award at the Gene mappers 2023, the leading conference in complex trait genetics in Australasia. In addition, the team discovered a novel genetic causal effect of serine on MS onset confirming serine-related genetic scores predict MS disability progression. In 2023, this research was featured by The European Committee for Treatment & Research in MS, the group responsible for the world’s largest annual International Congress in MS. Finally, the discovery of the genetic variation in LRP2 gene associated with MS relapse risk in 2017, is one of the first genetic discoveries that directly implicates non-immunological drivers of disease severity.

We have taken a multidisciplinary approach to examine the shared genetic architecture between MS and other diseases. This research, published in 2021, was featured by the editors at Nature Communications as one of the top 50 papers recently published in genetics, genomics & epigenetics, demonstrating the international impact of the team’s work. Dr Yuan Zhou was awarded Tasmanian Young Tall Poppy, 2023.