Much like a detective, Dr. James Dennis tracks down answers to great medical mysteries.

Dr. Dennis and colleagues are currently studying how genes are implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

“Multiple sclerosis is a devastating disease for which there is no current cure,” states Dr. James Dennis, senior investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital. “With better knowledge of these genes, we can make an early risk assessment in young adults and suggest an intervention strategy.”

Canadians have one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. Women are more than twice as likely to develop MS as men, and it’s one of the most common neurological disorders affecting young people. The risk of MS is much higher in people with a sibling or parent who has the disease compared to the general population.

Researchers at the Lunenfeld are reaching new frontiers of genetic analysis and modern medical research. They are ushering in a new era of healthcare – one where individual genetic differences are used to optimize and personalize medicine.

As Dr. Dennis and his team know, Research Creates the Best Medicine.