Faculty of Medicine University of Zurich post: Can we train the immune system to stop attacking itself without shutting it down entirely? Researchers from the University of Zurich and collaborating institutions have developed a novel cell therapy for multiple sclerosis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheet of the nerve cells in the brain. By chemically coupling the a patient's red blood cells with myelin peptides, the therapy reestablishes the normal tolerance towards self-structures. A recent Phase Ib clinical trial confirms that this approach is safe, well-tolerated, and successfully reduces autoreactive immune responses. Why it matters: This breakthrough represents a major shift in managing autoimmune conditions, moving away from treatments that broadly suppress the entire immune system. By selectively halting the attack on the central nervous system, this targeted therapy minimises severe side effects and preserves overall immune defence. Ultimately, this principle could pave the way for treating numerous other autoimmune diseases affecting millions globally. Congratulations to the extensive team at University of Zurich, Universitätsspital Zürich and Karolinska Institutet for this phenomenal achievement. A special acknowledgement goes to all University of Zurich affiliated authors: Andreas Lutterotti, Thomas Ludersdorfer, María José Docampo, Muriel Morax, Helen Hayward-Koennecke, Dr.med., Pietro Oldrati, Vasileia Kalaitzaki, Zoe Marti, Angela Zaugg, Filipa Marques Ferreira, Carla Sellés-Moreno, Carolina Cruciani, Reza Naghavian, Jacobo Sarabia del Castillo, Laure Tillé, Pavlos C. Englezou, René Stenger, Ilijas Jelcic, Nikolai Pfender, Marc H., Magdalena Foege, Verena Weichselbaumer, Alain Blanc, Thorsten Buch, Martin Huellner, Sebastian Winklhofer, Valerie Treyer, Martin Kayser, Mireia Sospedra Ramos, and Roland Martin. This work was funded by Wyss Zurich. Read the full paper in PNAS here: https://lnkd.in/eCepdspu #MultipleSclerosis #Neuroimmunology #MedicalInnovation #CellTherapy #Autoimmune Diseases