Two scientists — American neurologist Stephen Hauser and Italian epidemiologist Alberto Ascherio — have received the prestigious Breakthrough Prize, often called the “Oscars of Science,” for their pioneering work on multiple sclerosis (MS). Their decades-long research has revolutionized treatment approaches for the chronic, debilitating neurological disease, which affects nearly three million people globally.
A Life-Changing Encounter Sparks a Lifelong Mission
Stephen Hauser began his journey into MS research over 45 years ago, inspired by a powerful encounter with a young patient named Andrea. At the time, Andrea was a promising attorney working at the White House under President Jimmy Carter. But MS struck suddenly and severely, leaving her unable to speak, paralyzed, and eventually unable to breathe on her own.
Deeply moved by her condition, Hauser, then just 27, committed his life to understanding and treating the disease. “It was the most unfair thing I had ever seen in medicine,” he recalled.
Challenging the Scientific Consensus
In the 1970s and 1980s, the medical community believed that T cells — a type of white blood cell — were solely responsible for the damage MS causes to the central nervous system. However, Hauser questioned this assumption. He turned his focus to B cells, another type of white blood cell, and began studying their potential role in the disease.
Using marmosets, small monkeys with immune systems similar to humans, Hauser’s team successfully replicated the damage MS causes. Despite early skepticism — including rejection from the U.S. medical research authority, which called the idea “biologically implausible” — Hauser persisted.
Breakthrough Results from B Cell Therapy
Hauser and his colleagues eventually secured support from pharmaceutical company Genentech to test therapies targeting B cells. In 2006, their clinical trials yielded groundbreaking results: B cell-targeted treatments led to a dramatic 90% reduction in brain inflammation among MS patients.
This breakthrough marked a turning point in MS treatment, providing new options that could significantly slow disease progression for many patients. Yet, it also raised new questions — particularly about what triggers the immune system to attack the body in the first place.
Uncovering a Viral Trigger
Alberto Ascherio, a professor at Harvard, pursued this mystery by investigating the geographical patterns of MS. He noted that MS was significantly more common in the northern hemisphere and rare near the equator, suggesting a potential environmental or viral factor.
As reported by djournal, Ascherio and his team launched a long-term study, tracking millions of young U.S. military recruits over nearly two decades. Their research paid off in 2022, when they confirmed a strong link between MS and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a widespread infection that causes mononucleosis (commonly known as “mono”).
While most people with EBV never develop MS, Ascherio’s team found that every person who develops MS has previously been infected with EBV. This finding offers a vital clue in understanding the origins of the disease and opens new avenues for prevention and treatment.
Toward Future Discoveries in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Ascherio’s research may have broader implications beyond MS. His team is now exploring whether viral infections like EBV could play a role in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Though the connection remains theoretical for now, Ascherio believes they are at a similar stage as MS research was two or three decades ago. “There is some evidence,” he said, “and we’re continuing to investigate.”
A New Era in MS Research and Treatment
Thanks to the perseverance and groundbreaking work of Hauser and Ascherio, scientists now better understand the mechanisms behind MS. Their discoveries have not only improved treatment outcomes for patients but also opened new doors in the study of other complex neurological diseases.
Their contributions exemplify how long-term scientific commitment can lead to transformative change — and bring hope to millions living with conditions once thought untreatable.