The effects of diet on multiple sclerosis will be examined by a Tasmanian researcher.
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Alice Saul is one of two researchers at the University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research who has been awarded funding from MS Research Australia to continue their work.
Ms Saul,of Hobart, has been awarded a postgraduate scholarship of $78,000 for three years and Dr Yuan Zhou received a travel award of more than $9,000 for one year.
Ms Saul said she was pleased to be able to explore further her research into the effects of diet on MS.
“Many people with MS modify their diet or use an MS-specific diet, but there is a low evidence base that what is eaten has an impact on the disease, progression and symptoms,” she said.
“I will examine the role that diet has for people living with MS by working with the AusLong Study – an internationally unique group of people who were recruited soon after they had initial symptoms suggesting they would develop MS.”
She said it was hoped that the research would make a significant contribution to people living with MS by providing dietary advice that could enhance their quality of life.
In the future, she said the results might also help to design diets that may be used by people with MS to improve their disease course.
Dr Zhou will examine how gender impacts MS.
“The prevalence of MS is much higher in females than males, with three-quarters of all people with MS being women,” Dr Zhou said.
“This travel grant will support me to work at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute to assess possible genetic explanations for the difference in MS between females and males.
“The findings will potentially lead to personalised points of intervention and treatment by gender.”
Dr Matthew Miles, CEO of MS Research Australia, said the organisation was pleased to be supporting “these two exciting research projects”.
“We are dedicated to accelerating research that improves the lives of people living with MS,” Dr Miles said.
“Studying how diet and gender impacts the disease will be an important link to better treatment and intervention.”