Directory of Experts
Details for Dr Elizabeth Gray
| Personal details | |
| Name | Dr Elizabeth Gray |
| Job title | Research Associate |
| Department | School of Clinical Sciences University of Bristol |
| Contact details | This expert can be contacted via the University of Bristol Public Relations
Office. To help us deal with your request, please mention the Directory of Experts when contacting the Public Relations Office. work+44 (0)117 928 7777 email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk |
| Qualifications | BSc(Wales), PhD(Lond) |
| Professional details | |
| Membership of professional bodies | I am currently funded by a Junior Research Fellowship from the MS Society of Great Britain. |
| Keywords | neuroprotective treatments secondary progressive multiple sclerosis multiple sclerosis protection of nerve cells peroxisomes oligodendrocytes nerve cell damage |
| Areas of expertise | My research is designed to explore new treatments for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, by looking at drugs which may improve the function of cellular component called the peroxisome. Peroxisomes are found abundantly within nerve cells as well as oligodendrocytes and we speculate that increasing peroxisomal function within nerve cells might protect them from a wide range of damage. Although the precise mechanisms of nerve cell damage in multiple sclerosis are unknown, specific protection of nerve cells throughout the disease is likely to be of paramount importance in preventing accumulation of disability. In order to explore the neuroprotective role of peroxisomes, we aim to determine whether increasing peroxisomal function within nerve cells will protect against neurodegeneration in models of multiple sclerosis. In preliminary studies, we have already confirmed peroxisomes to be distributed throughout cultured nerve cells and in brain tissue derived from patients who have suffered from the disease. |