Pranathi Prasad

Department of Clinical Neuroscience

Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (P-MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the brain and spinal cord. The exact causes of this inflammation remain unclear, leaving patients with limited treatment options. Pranathi Prasad's PhD research uncovered a key driver of inflammation in P-MS: fragmented RNA in patient-derived cells. These fragments mimic infection signals, triggering inflammation that spreads to healthy cells. Using gene-targeting technology, she blocked the sensing of these RNA fragments, effectively halting inflammation and its spread. This discovery reveals a critical source of inflammation in P-MS and identifies a promising new target for therapeutic development.