MS Research Flagship
Newsletter

The MS Research Flagship marked World MS Day 2025 with a range of activities, spearheaded by the launch of a new global online course, MS Symptoms and Diagnosis.

Developed in collaboration with the MS International Federation and supported by MS Australia and MS Plus, the course was a cornerstone of this year’s World MS Day campaign, My MS Diagnosis, which advocates for early and accurate diagnosis for all people living with MS. It delves into MS symptoms, how MS is diagnosed and the impact of an MS diagnosis. It also looks at the global barriers to early MS diagnosis.

The short course, which features insights from leading researchers and lived experience voices, received more than 1,500 enrolments. It builds on the Flagship’s growing suite of free, accessible online education offerings, designed to empower people with MS, their families, and healthcare professionals worldwide.

In acknowledgement of World MS Day, the Flagship also hosted two public seminars—one in Burnie and one in Hobart—bringing together researchers and members of the MS community. The Burnie event was especially significant, with Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and patron of MS Australia, in attendance.

Professor Tracey Dickson, Director of Menzies, highlighted the importance of these events.

“These public seminars, which provide a unique opportunity to hear directly from world leading researchers and connect with others in the MS community, are an acknowledgement of this significant date in the MS community’s calendar.”

In addition to highlighting the global reach of our MS courses, the seminars spotlighted the Flagship's cutting-edge stem cell research, innovative workforce strategies to grow the MS nurse community, and initiatives supporting employment for people living with MS.

A promotion for Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Diagnosis, our free World MS Day course. 

Members of the MS community in NW Tasmania with the Governor-General at our event in Burnie.

Seminar presenters, Professors Kaylene Young, Bruce Taylor and Ingrid van der Mei, receiving a token of appreciation from the Governor-General.

Professor Young speaking at the Burnie seminar.

Ageing Well with MS is a free massive open online course (MOOC) that explores what ageing is and how it intersects with multiple sclerosis. The course provides physical, mental and emotional strategies for healthy ageing and looks at planning for the future.

Across three course modules you will hear from a range of MS experts, including clinical professionals, researchers and people living with MS.

• Opens: Always open
• Effort: 4-6 hours total
• Certificate: Yes

Funding for this course is provided by the Australian Government, Medical Research Future Fund, Emerging Priorities in Consumer Driven Research.

Multi-omics research team

As one of its associate investigators, consumer Meg Denham plays an active role in shaping the MS Research Flagship's multi-omics research project. The research focuses on identifying biological markers of MS for developing new diagnostic tools and treatments. 

Meg provides input on many aspects of the project to ensure it is relevant and understandable from a lived experience perspective. This includes reviewing project documents such as the plain language summaries and helping to identify any improvements or gaps in the research.

Meg Denham (front) with fellow research team members (L-R) Dr Valery Fuh-Ngwa, Dr Yuan Zhou and Dr Xin Lin at their meeting in April to discuss grant funding for the project.

New research buddy partnerships

A tour of the labs at Menzies was a fitting way to mark the establishment of two new research buddy partnerships in the MS Research Flagship.

Esther Pregnell, who is working with Alastair Fortune on a project investigating the role of rare genetic mutations in MS development and progression, eagerly embraced the opportunity to get involved.

"When the words 'I'm sorry, but it is MS' were spoken to me in the hospital, I still felt hope that I could continue to live my life how I wanted because of MS research. To go from sitting in a hospital bed hearing that news to peeking behind the curtain and working with the researchers is such a privilege," said Esther.

Lynda Hanlon is partnering with Dr Roisin Moloney on research that aims to understand how brain cells are affected by rare genetic variants that were found in families with a high incidence of MS. 

"As a person with lived experience of MS I am excited about this research and how I can contribute.  The lab tour with Roisin at Menzies was amazing, helping me understand more about the processes involved in genetic research," said Lynda.

(L-R) Lynda Hanlon, Esther Pregnell and Dr Roisin Moloney

(L-R) Dr Roisin Moloney, Lynda Hanlon, Alastair Fortune and Esther Pregnell

Agfest 2025 

Braving the chill with good cheer, the MS Research Flagship's Communications Manager Rachel Clemons joined fellow Menzies staff for a rewarding day out at Agfest in early May.

The event, held annually in northern Tasmania, is a great opportunity to engage with members of the public, increase awareness and share details of studies that are currently recruiting participants—everything from exercise for joint pain and stroke prevention to bushfire smoke health plans and of course the hunt for multiple sclerosis biomarkers.

Rachel Clemons (centre right) on the Menzies' stand at Agfest 2025.

Clarence Ladies Probus Club

In late May Dr Roisin Moloney and her consumer partner Lynda Hanlon were invited to speak at a meeting of the Clarence Valley Ladies Probus Club.

Their talk about their research project, 'Investigating the influence of rare genetic variants on the progression of MS,' combined science and the lived experience perspective and was well received by the highly engaged audience.

Dr Roisin Moloney (left) and Lynda Hanlon (centre left) with Caroline Dwyer and Ann Grubb (right) of the Clarence Valley Ladies Probus Club.

Ready to make a difference?

Find out if you're eligible by completing the screening survey.

This study is approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee, H0027273 (H-85821) and funded by the Australian Government, Medical Research Future Fund and National Health and Medical Research Council.

The Australian MS Longitudinal Study

The Australian MS Longitudinal Study (AMSLS) is a survey-based research study that collects real life data from people living with MS. The data is used by policy makers and medical and support services to improve health outcomes for people living with MS. 

For the data to have the most impact, the AMSLS needs as many participants as possible. So help create positive change by joining the AMSLS today.

The AMSLS is a partnership between Menzies Institute for Medical Research and MS Australia.

Congratulations to all MS Research Flagship staff members who received commendations at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research annual excellence awards in April. 

Among the recipients of the 'Ten of the best' award, which celebrates the ten best research papers published in the previous year, were:

• Dr Julie Campbell and Glen Henson for Estimation of Transition Probabilities from a Large Cohort (> 6000) of Australians Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for Changing Disability Severity Classifications, MS Phenotype, and Disease-Modifying Therapy Classifications, PharmacoEconomics (see details in 'Hot off the press', below); and 
• Phuong Tram Nguyen for Low intensity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances remyelination by newborn and surviving oligodendrocytes in the cuprizone model of toxic demyelination, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.

Alastair Fortune won a PhD Student Award for research contributions to Menzies that align with its mission to perform internationally significant medical research leading to healthier, longer and better lives for Tasmanians.

Annie Brennan won a Professional Staff Award for an outstanding contribution to Menzies through her leadership and management of the InforMS project. Read more about InforMS in our March issue.

Glen Henson (left) and Dr Julie Campbell (centre) with Professor Tracey Dickson

Alastair Fortune (left) with Professor Tracey Dickson

Annie Brennan (left) with Professor Tracey Dickson

Angela Nicoli is a postdoctoral researcher working with Professor Kaylene Young in the Glial Research Laboratory at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. Prior to joining Menzies, she completed her PhD and worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Synaptic Mechanisms Laboratory at the Australian National University, where she recorded electrical signals in neurons to better understand how these cells communicate with one another. She is now applying these methods to study the effects of rare genetic variants in MS.

Angela Nicoli

Erin Philips is a first-year PhD student with Professor Kaylene Young and the Glial Research Team, co-supervised by Associate Professor Brad Sutherland (Perivascular Research Group). Her project aims to explore the intrinsic dysregulation of vascular cells in MS, and its role in driving disease progression and severity.

Erin Phillips

Ann Piermatteo is a first-year PhD student at Menzies working under Professor Kaylene Young, and part-time consultant for Novoron/Novoroo Bioscience. Her research project focuses on how intrinsic astrocytic dysfunction contributes to MS pathophysiology, as well as exploring how rare MS-associated genetic variants affect astrocyte functionality. 

Ann Piermatteo