University of Alberta’s scientists Marek Michalak and Allison Kraus were working on genetic research unrelated to multiple sclerosis, when they made a truly amazing discovery for MS sufferers all around the globe. The two wound a link between a specific gene and the myelin.

The two scientists discovered that if the protein calnexin is removed, the myelin become loose and weaker – as it happens with MS. “This is the beauty of open-minded, curiosity-driven research,” said Michalak. He continued: “Myelin diseases are so diverse and so tricky to figure out. Nobody understands why these diseases happen which cause people to progressively lose their motor functions. We have discovered a new player in myelin diseases that was never considered before. It’s been an interesting and unexpected discovery.”

Lima’s Patrick Lutrell says: “This is really very exciting and I can not believe we are finally hearing what seems like an incredible breakthrough. This could really be the final stages of finding out how to cure this thing we have running rampant through our brains instead of always trying to “fix” the symptoms.”

A team of researchers studied this further and published their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and the results shed a light of hope in the MS world.