Novel protein provides hope for MS and alzheimer patients

Sara Baratchi has joined the list of talented young researchers from Iran making their name at Deakin University.

Now in her second year with Deakin since emigrating from Iran and working under the supervision of Associate Professor Jagat Kanwar, Sara has just been awarded The Coltman Prize which is the Biomedical Science Research Prize for Higher Degree Research Students.

The prize valued at $3000 is awarded to a continuing HDR student undertaking biomedical science research within the Faculty of Science and Technology.

It is given in recognition of outstanding achievement and ability within the student's particular area of research.

“It is an honour to be given this award,” smiles Sara. “It is a great encouragement to me, it makes me work even harder.

“I would like to thank everyone at BioDeakin and at ITRI for the support they have given me.”

Originally from Tehran, Sara is now living in Geelong and doing research towards her PhD under the ITRI/BioDeakin banner at the Geelong Technology Precinct.

“I am working on an in vitro model of the multiple sclerosis. I have a novel protein Jagat gave me as a clone,” Sara explains.

“So I purified that and I am studying its effects on neuro-degeneration and neuro-regeneration.

“I am seeing some interesting results.”

Sara believes there could be some positive outcomes for people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like: Multiple sclerosis (MS) or Alzheimer disease (AD) from her research.

“In Multiple sclerosis basically what is happening is that the brain cells are being damaged,” she said.

“The problem is that they don’t grow. So if we can make them grow again it would be a really good thing.”

And not just for MS patients, what about all those short term memory cells lost to too much chardonnay?

Sara smiles broadly and says: “It’s my aim, my wish!”

For more information on the work of Sara Baratchi and that of her supervisor, Associate Professor Jagat Kanwar visit:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/itri/biodeakin/research/immunology-molecular-biomedical.php

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