Dalia Rotstein

Administrative Assistant: Tara McGory, tara.mcgory@unityhealth.to

Research Synopsis:

My research is focused on the epidemiology of demyelinating diseases. specifically multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD). My team and I use large health administrative databases for some of these studies and clinical registry data for others. I am interested in how MS, NMOSD and MOGAD present and evolve in diverse populations. 

Key aspects to this effort include (1) Identifying the earliest signs of these diseases and risk factors for disease onset. This knowledge will facilitate earlier and more effective intervention. (2) Developing and validating outcome measures that will allow for earlier assessment of therapeutic response.

We are currently using health administrative databases to investigate cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) that were followed by the development of MS and several other autoimmune diseases in Ontario. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection, which causes IM, is thought to be a key environmental trigger of MS and possibly other autoimmune diseases. There may be potential in the future to prevent MS and other autoimmune diseases with an EBV vaccine.