How childhood hardship affects people with multiple sclerosis
Childhood Adversity Research Effort in Multiple Sclerosis (CARE.in.MS)
This project looks at how tough experiences in childhood relate to health and quality of life for adults living with multiple sclerosis, focusing on Black, Hispanic, and low-income communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242058 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, the team will work with community partners to use culturally sensitive questionnaires and collect information about childhood adversity at the individual, family, and neighborhood levels. They will combine patient-reported data with clinical records across multiple centers to study links between early-life hardship and MS outcomes like disability and quality of life. The project focuses on adults with MS who self-identify as part of high-risk groups (including Black, Hispanic, and poverty-impacted communities) and aims to include voices from those communities in the research process. Results will be used to identify social and environmental factors that could become targets for support or intervention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis—particularly those who identify as Black or Hispanic or who grew up in low-income or underserved neighborhoods—are the main candidates for participation.
Not a fit: People without MS, children, or adults with MS who did not experience childhood adversity may not directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to culturally tailored supports and care strategies that improve quality of life and reduce disparities for people with MS who experienced childhood adversity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked childhood adversity to worse health outcomes, but this multicenter, community-engaged focus on MS in Black and Hispanic populations is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krupp, Lauren B — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Krupp, Lauren B
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.