Dr Natalia Nikolaeva, from St Petersburg, Russia was the recipient of the 1999 award.

Dr Natalia Nikolaeva, Russia

Natalia Nikolaeva took up a post at the TNO Laboratories in the Netherlands where she worked on a project investigating the role of T-cells in the progression of MS.

The Project

One of the aims of the project "Regulatory T-cells and cytokines in MS" was to establish the role of proinflammatory cytokines in the progression of the disease and beneficial effect of anti-inflammatory cytokines on the course of MS.

Special attention was given to IL-10/IL-12 balance and IL-10 producing regulatory T-cells (what are these T-cells, do they have a regulatory function and how do they perform this regulation). Also the project dealt with the treatment of MS patients - different immunomodulatory agents, e.g. IFN-b, corticosteroids, were studied in relation to the induction of specific regulatory T-cells, with cytokine profile different from Th1 and Th2 cells.

TNO Laboratories

Natalia chose the TNO Laboratories in the Netherlands for two reasons. Firstly, their the Immunology and Infectious Diseases Division is very highly respected in the field of MS research. Secondly, TNO had existing links with the neuroimmunology laboratory of the Institute of Human Brain in St Petersburg, where she working at the time.

Both institutions were interested in the project, and so the Russian laboratory contributed by providing patients' material and clinical and MRI studies.

Natalia said of the award:

'I see more possibilities of developing myself as a researcher. Also it makes me feel good that later I will be able to transfer some knowledge I obtain at TNO Laboratories back to Russia, the final goal being to help MS patients, of course.’

Future Research

On her return to Russia, as well as working with diagnosis of MS, Natalia planned to study how exactly different immunomodulatory agents work, and what their targets are in the patients system.

She is also interested in developing more individual orientated treatments for people with MS, based on the specific symptoms of the individual.