Pioneer of Multiple Sclerosis Research Honored

The work of Alastair Compston and his research group has greatly contributed to better understanding the causes of multiple sclerosis and introducing new therapies. In a global study, the researchers were able to identify genetic risk factors for the disease. Today, it is known that misprogrammed immune cells trigger the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

With the discovery of this mechanism, Alastair Compston and his team were able to develop a key approach to therapy, in which the misguided immune cells are destroyed using drugs.  If treatment is begun early, the flare-ups typical of the disease can be slowed down significantly.

At the annual symposium of the Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ) on 13 September, Alastair Compston presented his latest research findings in his Koetser Memorial Lecture at UZH.

Protective sheaths under attack

In Switzerland more than 10,000 people suffer from multiple sclerosis. The disease of the central nervous system usually occurs in early adulthood. The body’s own immune cells attack the protective sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, triggering inflammations. Symptoms can range from loss of balance and impaired vision to paralysis.