Neuroimmunology Laboratory (Multiple Sclerosis)

The Neuroimmunology Lab at the Multiple Sclerosis Center serves MS patients, provides various tests used to diagnose and monitor the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, and conducts general and clinical trials relating to the disease and its functional genomics.

The lab complies with ISO 9001:2008 and is recognized as the Ministry of Health’s medical lab in the field. It also operates as a learning and training center for medical students and as a research lab for postgraduate students and physicians studying basic science work.

The lab operates a neuroimmunology clinical services unit and a neurogenomic research unit.

Tests performed at the lab

Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine tests, interferon antibody tests, and Aquaporin 4 (AQP-4) antibody tests, toward distinguishing between a multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica diagnosis.

Studies conducted at the lab 

Gene expression research of MS for disease profiling using a microarray chip array and X-MAP technology for protein expression, with analysis supported by bioinformatics techniques. 

Fields of Research

• Specifying gene and protein expression in a clinical MS attack. Identifying biomarkers for clinical attack verification and early detection.
• Specifying joint or complementary gene and protein expression for MS patients with a relapse-remission and primary and secondary advanced presentation, to better understand the disease progression from inflammation to neurodegeneration.
• Specifying gene and protein expression in relapsing-remitting MS patients with a benign process as compared to an aggressive process.
• Specifying medication pathways for treating patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
• Identifying a correlation between gene and protein expression in peripheral blood and central nervous system imaging data.