Fundamental Research is Paving the Way for New MS Treatments

Blog 3D Biological T Cells Attacking Cancer Cell

August 19, 2026

Fundamental Research is Paving the Way for New MS Treatments

Our immune systems have a team of T cells that patrol the body, looking for signs of germs or infection. But in multiple sclerosis (MS), some of those T cells mistakenly start attacking the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), causing inflammation and tissue damage.

Therapies that block those cells from entering the central nervous system have been a key breakthrough in treating MS and have dramatically reduced relapses (periods of severe symptoms) in many people.

However, these therapies may not be sufficient to limit damage in the brain and spinal cord over time, even in people whose MS is well controlled. And they don’t work well for people with a type of MS called progressive MS.

Research from BRI’s Bettelli Lab suggests that a group of cells called tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) may play a role in continued tissue damage.

“Unlike patrolling T cells, which circulate throughout the body, TRMs remain in the brain,” said Estelle Bettelli, PhD. “Because these cells don’t circulate through the body, current disease-modifying therapies may not effectively target them.”

Dr. Bettelli and her team recently earned grants to explore the role TRMs play in MS — and whether targeting them could lead to new treatments.

Learning what makes resident memory T cells unique

In two new studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Bettelli is investigating TRMs to better understand:

What molecules or receptors make them unique
Where they get their energy
How they stay in the central nervous system instead of circulating throughout the body

This knowledge could pave the way to controlling these cells. For example, if TRMs rely on a specific energy source, it may be possible to slow them down or limit the harm they cause. If researchers learn how these cells stay in the brain and spinal cord, they may be able to make them change their behavior and leave the brain. Discovering unique receptors on TRMs could open the door to eliminating these cells.

“We’re especially looking for unique characteristics that would enable us to target TRMs without harming other significant cells,” Dr. Bettelli said. “This is particularly important because the brain and spinal cord are vital organs.”

Cells that work together to cause disease

B cells also play an important role in MS. Many studies show that B cells and T cells may work together to drive inflammation and disease progression in MS.

In a study funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), Dr. Bettelli is using a state-of-the-art model – created by her team – to examine if and how TRMs and B cells work together in MS.

“We do not know whether TRMs rely on B cells for certain functions,” Dr. Bettelli said. “It is important to determine whether therapies that target B cells could curb their activity.”

Looking at what drives and perpetuates MS from different angles is important because MS is a complex condition involving many different types of immune cells. It may take a combination of medicines — and different approaches in different people — to reduce the long-term impact of the disease.

“This work takes time because we first have to build the models that allow us to study these complex disease processes,” Dr. Bettelli said. “We're very grateful for the ongoing support from the NIH and NMSS that enables us to keep asking important questions and moves us closer to better therapies for MS.”

How Does Wildfire Smoke Impact the Immune System?

As wildfire smoke becomes more common in the Pacific Northwest, BRI scientists are learning more about how it influences immune system function. We asked Dr. Megan Smithmyer about her research in this area and a new study examining the immune systems of wildland firefighters.

View Blog Post