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Inspiring the researchers of tomorrow

Sixth form scientists tackle MS research project

Open Door - August 2010 pages 6-7

David Colthurst David Colthust
Wellcome Library, London
An ambitious collaboration between scientists and sixth form pupils is now in its third year at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury. With help from their teachers and scientists at the University of Kent, A level science students are learning the necessary skills to run a genuine research project in the school labs.
Dr David Colthurst explains the background.

Three years ago, I knew almost nothing about multiple sclerosis; now I consider myself something of an expert on its symptoms, treatments, support and the research into new therapies. So what brought about this transformation?

I'm not very good about remembering dates, but the one I do remember is 31 October 2007 - this was the day my wife received her diagnosis of MS. News like that takes a while to adjust to and it changes your perspective quite drastically. It also gives you the incentive to find out as much as possible about the condition.

We talked with various health professionals including a specialist MS nurse and we visited the Kent MS Therapy Centre. This gave us answers to most of our questions about what we could expect of the next few months and years - but also made us realise how unpredictable MS can be, that each person's MS is their own unique variant.


Getting students involved

Before I became a teacher I was a research biochemist and so I started to look at some of the root causes of MS. Reading the latest research, I came across a protein called myelin basic protein (MBP) that appears to have a role in maintaining the integrity of the myelin sheath. Myelin basic protein became my personal therapeutic target and I started to wonder if I could attract funding for a research project which I could get my sixth form students involved in.

After a number of fruitless calls, it quickly became very evident that no school had ever tried to set up a project like this before. The only serious possibility was the Wellcome Trust - the largest nongovernment source of funding for biomedical research in the UK. They have a number of programmes to encourage public engagement in biosciences. With the help of colleagues at the school and support from researchers at the University of Kent I made a successful application for a People Award in July 2008. We recently heard that we have been successful in getting a second grant from the Wellcome Trust which will allow us to run for another year from September 2010.

The project focuses on myelin basic protein (MBP), a major constituent of the myelin sheath. Myelin wraps round nerve axons in thin sheets and MBP helps to hold layers of the sheath together, acting as a kind of molecular Velcro. However, its structure can easily fall apart - for the technically minded this happens when phosphate groups get added to MBP (phosphorylation). This is bad news because when the fragile structure is distorted it plays a part in triggering the autoimmune response, ultimately causing the myelin sheath to come apart and preventing nerve impulses being transmitted through nerves.


So what are we doing?

We want to find out what causes the phosphorylation events which affect the structure of MBP.

How are we doing this? Well, basically we're taking the human gene for MBP and genetically engineering it into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, normal brewer's and baker's yeast. Yeast cells have almost the same biochemical pathways as humans - so we expect the human MBP to be treated in exactly the same way as it would be in a human cell. This will give us a model for investigating what affects the structure of MBP.

This is technically very challenging and it is only because of the close collaboration with the Biosciences Department at University of Kent that we have been able to shape our initial ideas into a workable project. Researchers from the labs have given up their time to help train students in techniques more commonly taught in the first or second year of an undergraduate degree. Students have taken days out of their normal timetable learning experimental protocols, how to use the apparatus and beginning to understand the theory behind the experiments.

Co-ordinating the students has proved to be a considerable challenge in itself. In the first year, we had 60 students taking part, now we are in our second year there are 90. All Biology A level students, they have been divided into seven teams, each led by a student team leader and a member of the Biology staff and assigned a research mentor from the bioscience department at the University of Kent. Each team focuses on a specific aspect of the project and my task is to direct their efforts and assemble 'the big picture'.


Outside the school

In addition to the project, we have been able to build strong links with the Kent MS Therapy Centre which is adjacent to our school. Many of our students volunteer their support to the centre and last year raised £2,680 through various fundraising activities.

The Wellcome Trust award scheme centres on public engagement and we have endeavoured to spread the word about the project. We were invited to contribute a stand at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition last year. We had a fantastic time and were able to prove to a wide range of people that you are "Never too young to be a research scientist". We have created and delivered four MBP2 DNA workshops for sixth form students from neighbouring schools to give them a greater appreciation of the techniques involved.

So there it is, MBP2 - the Myelin Basic Protein Project. There are many aspects of this project that have exceeded my expectations. Particularly the number of students who want to be involved and the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the Biology staff who have all worked tremendously hard to make this project happen.

MBP2 has proved that it is possible to provide students with an authentic research experience in the school environment, carrying out practical work they normally only hear about in lessons. This leads to a much better understanding of the science and a much clearer idea of the careers open to them as they move on to further education.

Students and staff of Langton Grammar School Students and staff of Langton Grammar School
Picture: Terry Connolly

And what does my wife make of all this hard work?

She writes; "MBP2 became my torch in the darkness of disease - a positive focus and essentially a lifeline from the debilitating challenges of MS. Having witnessed and marvelled at a unique collaboration, pioneered by my inspired husband and embraced by the staff and pupils, I couldn't help but view my disease more positively.

"From my personal experience and understanding of MS, I have concluded that knowledge is power. MBP2 has proved a hub for empowering knowledge, sharing practice and enthusiasm for science with other schools and predominantly in the fight against disease, their knowledge is power.

"Thank you MBP2 and thank you Dave."

If you want to follow our progress, you can keep up to date through the school newsletter on our website or our own MBP2 website.

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