Dr Brittney Lins from the Curtin Medical Research Institute is taking on an important question in multiple sclerosis (MS) research – is copper at the core of environmental factors linked to the disease?

Her work, which aims to improve quality of life for people living with MS, has been awarded a $300,000 grant from MS Australia over three years. The project will explore whether disrupted copper levels in the brain are connected to key MS risk factors, including Epstein‑Barr virus infection, vitamin D deficiency and gut health. The research will examine whether copper imbalance contributes to myelin damage, helping open up new possibilities for treatment and prevention.

Congratulations to Dr Lins and co‑investigators, John Curtin Distinguished Professor Lindy Fitzgerald and Associate Professor Mark Hackett, on this exciting achievement. You can read more about the project here and learn more about Dr Lins’ research here.