Advanced MRI to track nerve and visual pathway damage in multiple sclerosis
Imaging Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis
Using advanced MRI and eye imaging to measure brain and optic nerve changes in people with multiple sclerosis so doctors can better predict who may get worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176874 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will use cutting-edge MRI methods (quantitative susceptibility mapping, quantitative T1 lesion mapping, multi-shell and tensor-valued diffusion MRI) to measure myelin, axons, and iron-related inflammation in the brain and visual pathways. These scans will be combined with retinal imaging (OCT and OCT angiography) and metabolic measures of oxygen use to link imaging findings to vision and clinical status. The team will follow people with MS, including those after optic neuritis and those with posterior visual pathway lesions, and compare imaging results with vision tests and clinical outcomes. The project aims to develop objective imaging markers that can help explain neurodegeneration and guide treatment choices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, especially those who have had optic neuritis or known visual pathway lesions and who can undergo MRI and retinal imaging, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without MS, or those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to certain implants or severe claustrophobia), are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these imaging markers could help doctors identify people with MS who are likely to worsen and choose more appropriate treatments earlier.
How similar studies have performed: The investigators have previously shown MRI and retinal imaging can detect trans-synaptic degeneration after optic neuritis and metabolic abnormalities in MS, while combining these advanced sequences for prediction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Calabresi, Peter a — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Calabresi, Peter a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.