The Killam Seminar Series

Supported by the generosity of the Killam Trusts, the MNI's Killam Seminar Series invites outstanding guest speakers whose research is of interest to the scientific community at the MNI and McGill University.

Talk Title: The Disappearing Act: How Microglia Influence Myelin Health Across the Lifespan

John David Eaton Chair, Multiple Sclerosis Research, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Canada

Professor, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Canada

Abstract: Myelin is the insulation surrounding axons, which is critical for central nervous system health and function, yet it is damaged in common neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and pathological aging. Although myelin can be regenerated in the form of remyelination, the efficiency of this process decreases with aging and the progression of MS. Our lab has discovered that glial interactions are critical in maintaining myelin health and regulating remyelination post-injury. For instance, we have seen that the absence of microglia is sufficient to initiate spontaneous demyelination. In addition, we have identified surprising mechanisms by which microglia support CNS remyelination. Here, I will present our latest work understanding how microglia influence oligodendrocyte heterogeneity and the dynamics of myelin damage and repair. This has important implications for devising novel therapeutic strategies to support myelin health in aging and disease.

Speaker Bio: Veronique Miron completed her PhD with Jack Antel at the Montreal Neurological Institute on the impact of immune modulating therapies on oligodendrocytes and remyelination, then carried out her postdoctoral studies at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine with Charles ffrench-Constant, identifying a key role for microglia in regulating remyelination. She then launched her independent lab at the University of Edinburgh through a Medical Research Council Career Development Award, followed up by a Medical Research Council Senior Fellowship Award. Her team investigates the glial-immune interactions controlling myelin health across the lifespan, with the goal of identifying new therapies for common neurological conditions such as MS. In 2022, she relocated to Toronto to take up the John David Eaton Chair in Multiple Sclerosis Research and a Professorship in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto.

Host or Publisher The Neuro