Alexandra Bayer Wildberger, PhD

2026 Next Generation Research Grant in Myasthenia Gravis

Investigating the Role of the Immune System’s First Responders in Myasthenia Gravis

Institution: Yale School of Medicine

Project Summary: In most cases of myasthenia gravis (MG), antibody proteins produced by the immune system block the normal activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This causes an interruption in the messages sent from nerve endings to muscles that control bodily function and movement. For decades, diagnosis of autoimmune diseases predominantly centered on detecting one specific antibody called IgG. However, recent studies suggest that one of the other four known antibodies, IgM, can cause symptoms in other autoimmune conditions. In Dr. Bayer Wildberger’s own laboratory and others, IgM has been detected among a subset of MG patients.

Dr. Bayer Wildberger’s project will explore the biological pathways of the antibody IgM in acetylcholine receptor (AChR) myasthenia gravis to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. She hypothesizes that IgM antibodies play a significant molecular role in MG, that they influence disease severity, and that their molecular properties and mechanisms differ from IgG antibodies.

If IgM is found to play a significant role in MG, it could lead to the development of new treatments for the condition. For example, this research could reveal new biomarkers that could help personalize therapeutic strategies to a patient’s unique immunological profile.

Check out an article on Dr. Bayer Wildberger’s research in CTInsider.

This research is funded by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and the American Brain Foundation.