Patricia Sikorski, PhD

Project Title: “Atypical Memory B Cells in Myasthenia Gravis”

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune, neuromuscular disease in which antibodies destroy the communication between nerves and muscles, causing disabling weakness. There is a pressing need to understand the cellular and molecular basis of MG. In patients with other autoimmune diseases, atypical memory B cells (AtMBs) may be associated with the disease, but it is not yet clear if this is the case in MG.

Dr. Sikorski’s research will study whether AtMBs play the same role in MG as in other autoimmune diseases. This research has the potential to improve our understanding of myasthenia gravis as well as autoimmunity more generally.

Dr. Sikorski is a postdoctoral fellow at George Washington University.

Tis research is funded by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and the American Brain Foundation, in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology.