MR clues to how nNOS affects energy use and blood flow in Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Official title: MR Assessment of the effect of nNOS on Bioenergetics and Microvascular Function in Becker and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11413866 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how advanced MRI tests can track muscle energy and blood flow changes in people with Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy as new gene therapies are explored.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $569,521 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR085068-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413866 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Becker muscular dystrophy or Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are candidates for gene therapy research and have muscular involvement suitable for MR assessment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without muscular dystrophy or those not participating in gene-delivery or exercise interventions may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use magnetic resonance techniques to measure how muscles in dystrophy patients use energy and how blood flow responds to activity. They will study dystrophic mouse models with micro-dystrophin gene delivery, with and without the nNOSμ domain, and examine responses to exercise. The goal is to understand whether MR measures can monitor disease progression and treatment effects. This work builds on prior findings of altered energy status and impaired microvascular function in dystrophic muscle. The study could inform how future therapies are evaluated in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could see improved methods to monitor disease progression and treatment response noninvasively.
How similar studies have gone: Prior MR studies in dystrophic muscle showed altered energy status and vascular responses; this project extends those findings to gene-delivery approaches in animal models and MR monitoring.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forbes, Sean C — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Forbes, Sean C
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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.