Today, our study looking at the impact of menopause on #MultipleSclerosis disease progression was published in @jamaneurology.com We show that in 987 women with relapsing disease, menopause does not increase the risk of progression. Rather somatic aging is the primary driver of disability in midlife

It’s amazing how far we have come!

Amazing work by my PhD student Dr Jessica Shipley is out exploring the impacts of pregnancy on relapse and disability outcomes in women woth moderate to severe disability. We found that like in women with mild disease, relapse rates fell by up to 75% in this population.

🚨 Calling Australian women with #MultipleSclerosis to take part in the MS Australian women’s midlife years (MS-AMY) study. We want to understand your physical, psychological, sexual and socioeconomic wellbeing, and how #menopause impacts this.

More information below:
www.monash.edu/medicine/tra...

Thanks for a great chat this morning @drshanerrr.bsky.social! In anticipation of the day of immunology on Tuesday 29th April and the public lecture at the Doherty Institute, we got to chat all things #MultipleSclerosis and #Immunology

www.rrr.org.au/explore/prog...

Excited to be speaking at the Australia and New Zealand Day of Immunology Public Lecture on 29 April, 6pm at the Doherty Institute, Melbourne. I’ll be joining colleagues to explore the world of #neuroimmunology —where the brain meets the immune system. Free event, open to all! Register below👇

Gearing up to speak about all things #pregnancy and #MultipleSclerosis at the #AAN conference in San Diego tomorrow. Tag teaming with the amazing #RileyBove and #KerstinHellwig

We found that PIRA was a rare event in #NMOSD with most disability occurring as a result of relapse activity. This means that the clinical priority should remain relapse prevention in this condition.

Sex and sex hormones influence #MultipleSclerosis outcomes through effects on both the immune and nervous systems. In our perspective published today in @natureportfolio.bsky.social we explore the role of sex hormones and gender diversity in MS. Our article can be found here 👉🏻 rdcu.be/d23Hp

Jokubaitis Lab Christmas party. So grateful to work with this incredible group of people. Reflecting on 2024, we’ve published 17 papers across MS and pregnancy, menopause, cancer risk, biomarkers and treatment efficacy, with another 6 under review, and 9 in preparation. What a hard working team! 🤩

Our Alfred Health MS and Neuroimmunology end of year Mystery Surprise Party! Sharing a special recipe, book exchange or awesome home made bracelets- it’s all part of the fun. So grateful for this amazing team!! @vjokubaitis.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social

Why do I always seem to miss the photoshoot? 😭

Both are topics that we are exploring in my lab. Work undertaken by my talented PhD students, Dr Cassie Nesbitt and Dr Francesca Bridge, not yet on Bluesky. Watch this space for updates!

Whilst we find that most reports have not identified an increased cancer risk in people with MS. There is much that we still don’t know about the interaction between MS-specific therapies and cancer risk. Or about the clinical management of MS after a cancer diagnosis.

As more people live longer with multiple sclerosis thanks to advances in #MS disease modifying therapies, our recent review published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal explores navigating a dual diagnosis of MS and cancer. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Slowly transitioning to this new platform. So great to see many colleagues here already 😀
Stay tuned for #multiplesclerosis and #womenshealth related posts and possibly other random bits and pieces