Through the Cosmos Club Foundation award, I was able to analyze human post-mortem brain tissues from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory neurodegenerative disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord. A group of antibody-producing cells known as B cells are thought to contribute to disease, and using the award, I was able to characterize the areas of inflammation and damage associated with B cells. I found that not only are B cells present in these brain lesions but they are found in especially high numbers and also closely associated with other inflammatory cells in progressive forms of MS. This suggests that B cells may play a role in disease progression rather than initiation. This is an important aspect of my overall dissertation, and I am grateful to have received this opportunity from the Cosmos Club Foundation.
