Scientific discoveries typically require years of painstaking laboratory work. But sometimes, a spark of insight can arise from a chance encounter.
That’s a lesson Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Bob Axtell, Ph.D., learned when an introduction to a German neurologist led to a years-long collaboration – and a new finding about two neurological disorders. The findings could lead to better treatments for patients living with the conditions.
During a conference eight years ago in New Orleans, Axtell learned he and Friedemann Paul, M.D., shared an interest in a pair of rare diseases. The two illnesses, neuromyelitis optical spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD), are similar to multiple sclerosis, but much less common.
It’s estimated that each disease affects 2 or 3 in every 100,000 people. Both conditions can cause a range of symptoms, including vision issues, pain in the spine and limbs, loss of bowel and bladder control, and paralysis of the lower limbs.
“Historically, NMOSD and MOGAD were often lumped together by doctors,” said Axtell. “But research has shown they are distinct conditions.”
For their research, the scientists analyzed blood donated by patients at OMRF and Paul’s clinic in Berlin. “We found that treatments used for NMOSD don’t really work for MOGAD,” said Axtell. “This finding could significantly improve treatment decisions for patients.”
The findings were published Monday in the journal Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation.
Gabriel Pardo, M.D., treats patients with both conditions at the OMRF Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, where he is the director. “These disorders can be quite challenging to diagnose and treat, and for the people who live with them, a normal life often seems out of reach,” he said.
According to Pardo, Axtell and Paul’s new findings point the way to better therapeutic outcomes. “You can’t really treat a disease until you understand its biology,” he said. “This discovery brings us closer to the hope of developing more effective treatment options.”
Axtell’s research was supported by grant Nos. R01AI137047 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and R01EY027346 from the National Eye Institute, both part of the National Institutes of Health. He also received pilot funding from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology, the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, and the Presbyterian Health Foundation.
