Axonal damage from sulfatide loss in MS patients
Official title: Axonal Pathology Consequential of Sulfatide Depletion Independent of Demyelination
Funded at VA Veterans Administration Hospital · NIH-11190133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project aims to understand how loss of a brain fat (sulfatide) may cause nerve fiber damage in multiple sclerosis, potentially leading to better treatments for people with MS and veterans who are affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Veterans Administration Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006909-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with multiple sclerosis or at risk of MS, and their clinicians, may benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
The immediate study does not enroll patients; it uses tissue samples and models, so direct benefit to participants is not expected in the short term.
What this research studies
This grant explores how the loss of sulfatide, a key lipid in nerve insulation, contributes to axonal damage in MS. By studying human brain tissue and relevant models, researchers hope to pinpoint how this lipid change drives disease symptoms beyond demyelination. The work focuses on mechanisms that could be targeted to protect nerves and improve patient outcomes. If successful, the findings could guide new therapeutic strategies and inform care for veterans with MS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that protect nerve fibers and improve quality of life for people with MS, including veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows axonal damage is linked to demyelination, and this project seeks to uncover a distinct lipid-related pathway; outcomes could be transformative but are still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Veterans Administration Hospital
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dupree, Jeffrey L. — VA Veterans Administration Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dupree, Jeffrey L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Axonal Damage from Sulfatide Loss in MS (Untethered from Demyelination)
Aimed at understanding how the loss of a fatty coating in nerve fibers might cause nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis, beyond the loss of myelin.
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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.