Australian researchers are using lab-grown mini brains to investigate myelin repair in multiple sclerosis, tackling a form of nerve damage that current disease-modifying therapies cannot fix, according to an MS Australia press release.
Lab-Grown Mini Brains Target Myelin Loss in Multiple Sclerosis
Scientists at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health are growing 3D human stem cell models to study how myelin forms naturally. Samantha Barton, PhD, leads the project, which is funded by MS Australia.
“We’ve developed laboratory-grown brain models that allow us to study how human myelin forms in ways that aren’t possible using conventional laboratory techniques or animal models,” Barton said in a statement.
In multiple sclerosis, inflammatory attacks damage myelin. This protective coating, made of fatty molecules and specialized proteins, helps nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve transmit electrical signals. While the body naturally repairs myelin through remyelination, this process slows down with age. Existing treatments lower relapse rates and slow disease progression, but they do not reverse existing damage.
“Current treatments target the immune system, but they can’t repair the damage that has already occurred,” Barton noted.
Did you know?
People living with MS identified repair and regeneration as their top research priority when surveyed by MS Australia, according to Fiona McKay, PhD, the organization’s deputy head of research.
Barton’s team uses cerebral organoids containing cells organized in three dimensions to mimic the human nervous system. This approach lets researchers examine the genes and molecular pathways involved in myelin formation. Rohan Greenland, CEO of MS Australia, emphasized that continued investment remains essential to advancing care.
Epstein-Barr Virus Links and Genetic Research
The mini-brain initiative is one of three projects funded through MS Australia’s 2026 Mid-Year MS Research Grants Round, which also includes two incubator grants and a postgraduate scholarship.
A second project led by Carla Proietti, PhD, at the University of Queensland, examines how inherited genetic factors influence immune responses to the Epstein-Barr virus. EBV is a major environmental risk factor for multiple sclerosis; while nearly everyone contracts EBV, virtually all people with MS have a history of past infection. Proietti’s team combines genetic analyses with antibody assessments to clarify how the virus interacts with other risk factors.
“We know Epstein-Barr virus is one of the strongest risk factors for MS, but we still don’t understand why only some people go on to develop the disease,” Proietti said.
Advanced MRI and AI Track Spinal Cord Damage
A third project led by Tal Koren, MD, at the University of Sydney, applies advanced MRI scans and artificial intelligence to detect and track spinal cord damage in people with MS.
Accurate imaging helps clinicians monitor disease progression and evaluate whether treatments are working. By improving spinal cord imaging, researchers hope to clarify how spinal cord damage drives disability over time.
“By improving how we image the spinal cord, we hope to better understand how spinal cord damage contributes to disability over time,” Koren said. “This could help clinicians monitor disease more accurately, identify people at greater risk of progression, and uncover new biological pathways that may become future treatment targets.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are lab-grown mini brains used for in multiple sclerosis research?
Researchers use 3D cerebral organoids grown from human stem cells to study how myelin forms, identifying the genes and molecular pathways needed to develop new remyelination treatments, according to Dr. Samantha Barton.
Can current MS treatments repair damaged myelin?
How does the Epstein-Barr virus relate to MS?
While almost everyone is infected with EBV, virtually all people with MS have had a past EBV infection, making it a major environmental risk factor that researchers are actively investigating.
How do AI and advanced MRI help track MS?
Advanced MRI scans combined with artificial intelligence improve the detection and tracking of spinal cord damage, helping clinicians monitor disease progression and evaluate treatment effectiveness.
Stay Informed on MS Research
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on stem cell models, clinical trials, and breakthrough neurology discoveries.
Keep reading