This axis focuses on transforming MS monitoring by finding and validating protein biomarkers in the blood and CSF that reveal subclinical disease activity and injury. We are developing practical, high-impact tests, such as those based on dried blood spots , for proteins like NfL and GFAP to enable frequent, accessible monitoring. Our goal is to quickly distinguish active MS from other neurological factors and enhance real-world treatment surveillance.

This research dives deep into the immune system to decode the cellular basis of MS progression. Using advanced flow cytometry and single-cell sequencing, we map the unique 'fingerprints' of immune cells in the CSF and blood. The key objective is to identify immune signatures that predict the formation of smoldering (chronic active) lesions and define the cellular state of durable remission following highly effective treatments like HSCT.

Given that EBV infection is a necessary risk factor for MS, this axis directly investigates its role in driving disease inflammation. We use cutting-edge genomics and phenotyping to characterize EBV-infected B cells and the corresponding T-cell responses in both the brain and the periphery. This work seeks to clarify the link between dynamic changes in the body's reaction to EBV and the onset of MS relapses