5 quick questions about Epstein-Barr-virus and Multiple Sclerosis

Honorary Doctor Alberto Ascherio led the research that demonstrated a connection between the Epstein-Barr virus and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Here he answers five key questions about this topic.

Portrait photo of Alberto Ascherio in front of an artwork.
Photo: Thor Brødreskift

5 quick questions

– What do we know about the connection between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS?

– We know that the Epstein-Barr virus is the main cause of MS. We also know that if we can somehow prevent the viral infection, we can thereby prevent the majority, or perhaps nearly all, cases of Multiple Sclerosis.

– How did this conclusion come about?

– We were able to demonstrate that people who are not infected with the Epstein-Barr virus do not get MS. It took over 20 years of research on over 10 million people over several years. Young adults who are not infected with the virus do not get MS.

– Why is this the case?

– The mechanisms are not fully understood. The most important question now is whether we can target the virus in people who already have MS to cure the disease. There is currently ongoing work to try to find answers to this.

– What kind of research is needed to get more answers?

– Ideally, a clinical, randomized study would be conducted to see if antiviral drugs have an effect when we attempt to target the virus directly.

– How close are we to get a vaccine to prevent MS?

– There is currently a lot of omgoing research on a possible vaccine that can prevent EBV infection. If we had a vaccine that could completely prevent EBV, we would also be able to eliminate MS. A vaccine that reduces the severity of the infection, like the COVID-19 vaccines, but does not prevent the virus, is also likely to reduce the risk of MS. 

Honorary doctors at the UiB

  • Honorary doctorates are awarded without the need for a doctoral thesis or public defence by institutions that are entitled to award doctorates, etc.
  • The first honorary doctorate at the UiB was awarded in 1952.
  • The last time an honorary doctorate was awarded at the UiB was in 2022.
  • Since the first award in 1952, the UiB has now awarded 143 people with the title of honorary doctor at the UiB.
  • An honorary doctorate is a doctoral degree that is awarded by a university without the recipient previously having to defend a thesis in a public defence.
  • Such honorary doctorates are usually awarded to prominent people. Honorary doctorates may also be awarded in recognition of significant lifetime achievements.

Alberto Ascherio

  • Born in 1953 and graduated as a physician from the University of Milano in 1978.
  • Specialized in internal medicine and worked for several years as a physician and epidemiologist in Nicaragua and Mozambique.
  • Earned a doctorate from the Harvard School of Public Health in 1992.
  • Since 2008, has been a professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, and since 2009, a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Last updated: 02.06.2025