How myelin changes affect movement and recovery in multiple sclerosis
Precision of Myelin Plasticity in Health and Disease
This work looks at how changes in the brain’s myelin influence learning, movement, and repair in people with multiple sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245712 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use advanced imaging in mice to watch myelin and the cells that make it while animals learn motor tasks and recover from injury. They will alter local brain activity and try behavior-based interventions to see how those changes affect myelin repair. The team links these cellular and circuit changes to motor behavior over time. The aim is to reveal mechanisms that could guide treatments or rehabilitation strategies for people with MS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, especially those experiencing motor difficulties, would be the most relevant group for future applications of these findings.
Not a fit: People without MS or those with very advanced, irreversible nerve loss are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways—including behavioral approaches—to boost remyelination and improve motor recovery in people with MS.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that neuronal activity can influence myelination, but linking behavior-driven circuit changes to remyelination and motor learning at this resolution is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hughes, Ethan Garrett — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hughes, Ethan Garrett
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.