For help reaching an expert on deadline, please contact UB's media relations team at 716-645-6969 or ub-news@buffalo.edu.

Note to members of the news media:

The correct name of the university is “University at Buffalo,” not “University of Buffalo.”

Murali Ramanathan

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Multiple sclerosis (MS), disease-modifying drugs

Head shot of Murali Ramanathan, professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

Murali Ramanathan can speak to the media about the physiological effects and pharmaceutical treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory neurological disease affecting more than 2 million people worldwide.

His research has found that cholesterol affects the progression of the disease. In particular, he has found that LDL — or “bad” cholesterol — can adversely affect MS progression while HDL — “good” cholesterol — is protective against the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in MS patients.

His lab has investigated the mechanisms behind interferon-beta, a regularly used treatment for MS. He has also conducted research that indicates MS progresses more rapidly in African American patients than in Caucasian patients.

Ramanathan’s current work focuses on how MS progression is affected by cholesterol and lipids, and by environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking, vitamin D levels, and immune responses to the Epstein-Barr virus — the common cause for mono.

CONTACT:

Murali Ramanathan, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NEWS ABOUT MURALI RAMANATHAN