How myelin-making brain cells sense their surroundings
Environmental Biosensors in the Oligodendrocyte Lineage
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER · NIH-11322081
Learning how the brain's myelin-producing cells respond to signals could help people with conditions like multiple sclerosis and age-related decline.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322081 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work examines how oligodendrocyte-lineage cells (the cells that make myelin) detect chemical, mechanical, and environmental cues. The team uses biosensor tools, transgenic mouse models, and analyses of human post-mortem brain tissue to track changes in DNA and histones that control cell maturation. They test engineered compounds that can reverse harmful epigenetic changes and study links between gut metabolites, social experiences, and myelination. The goal is to understand the signals that promote healthy myelin so new therapy ideas can be developed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with conditions linked to myelin loss such as multiple sclerosis, age-related cognitive problems, or depression, and adults willing to consider brain-tissue donation for research, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without disorders related to myelin biology and children are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to ways to restore or protect myelin, potentially improving outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis, age-related cognitive decline, or related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and post-mortem human-brain studies have shown epigenetic changes tied to myelination and some compounds reversed these changes in animals, but effective human therapies are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CASACCIA, PATRIZIA — ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER
- Study coordinator: CASACCIA, PATRIZIA
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.