Eye blood vessel signs of nerve damage in multiple sclerosis
Retinal microvasculature as a predictor of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis
This project uses a quick, noninvasive eye scan to look for tiny blood vessel changes that may show nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11329775 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will be invited to a clinic visit where providers will do neurologic and vision exams and ask about your walking, symptoms, and quality of life. A painless optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) scan will image the tiny blood vessels in your retina as a window into brain blood vessel health. The study will compare these eye blood vessel measures with patient-reported symptoms and objective tests of nerve and walking function. This observational work aims to see if the eye scan can serve as a useful marker of neurodegeneration in MS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with multiple sclerosis who can travel to clinic visits and complete vision and neurologic testing and questionnaires are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without MS or those with eye conditions that prevent clear OCTA imaging are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors detect early nerve damage in MS using a painless eye scan and guide treatments to protect walking and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous eye imaging studies in MS have found retinal thinning and vascular changes, but using OCTA as a practical surrogate for CNS neurodegeneration is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Portland VA Medical Center — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silbermann, Elizabeth — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Silbermann, Elizabeth
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.