NIH Awards $1.3 Million Health Research Grant

School of Science and Technology and School of Pharmacy collaborate to fight MS.

by Patricia Thio

Professors in the School of School of Pharmacy and Science and Technology are striving to alleviate symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Health. By using cutting-edge technology, the LLU researchers plan to develop new techniques to more accurately diagnose MS earlier, before patients experience severe symptoms.

Shu-Wei (Richard) Sun, PhD (left), assistant professor of biophysics and bioengineering at the LLU School of Science and technology, and principal investigator of the study; and Wei-Xing Shi, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and basic sciences at the LLU School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, and co-investigator of the study, will begin neurological research with the goal to help those living with multiple sclerosis.

According to Dr. Shi, multiple sclerosis is one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose in its early stages. “We’re hoping that before patients show severe symptoms they can receive accurate diagnosis,” says Dr. Shi, “and therefore, receive treatment earlier to prevent severe MS symptoms. Every week in the United States, 200 people are diagnosed with MS - a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can be mild, such as numbness in limbs, or severe, such as paralysis and loss of vision.

Shu-Wei (Richard) Sun, PhD (left), assistant professor of biophysics and bioengineering at the LLU School of Science and Technology, with Wei-Xing Shi, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and basic sciences at the LLU School of Pharmacy.