Axonal Damage from Sulfatide Loss in MS (Untethered from Demyelination)
Official title: Axonal Pathology Consequential of Sulfatide Depletion Independent of Demyelination
Funded at VA Veterans Administration Hospital · NIH-11687732 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 5I01BX006909-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11687732 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with multiple sclerosis, including veterans, who may benefit from therapies targeting axonal protection and lipid pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without MS or without involvement of axonal damage related to sulfatide pathways are unlikely to benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how removing sulfatide, a lipid in nerve coverings, could lead to axonal damage in multiple sclerosis. It uses human brain tissue and animal models to explore new pathways of disease that are not tied to myelin loss alone. The research hopes to identify new targets for treatments that could protect nerves and improve function for people with MS, including veterans. By understanding these mechanisms, clinicians may develop therapies that help prevent disability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new avenues for therapies that protect nerve fibers in MS, potentially slowing disability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous MS research has linked myelin damage to axonal injury, but this study seeks a distinct mechanism that could open new treatment options.
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.
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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.