Multi-Scale Brain Imaging to Track Cognitive Change in Multiple Sclerosis
Official title: Multi-Scale, Multi-Modal Imaging Assessment of Trajectories of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11377519 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brain-imaging study in people with multiple sclerosis aims to map how brain connections relate to getting worse or staying the same in thinking skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $663,449 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134646-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377519 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with multiple sclerosis who are being followed for disease progression and cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without MS or without interest in participating in longitudinal imaging and cognitive testing may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced MRI techniques and PET imaging to look at how brain networks change over time in people with MS and how these changes relate to cognitive performance. By combining macroscopic network measures with microscopic markers of neuronal integrity, researchers hope to build models that predict who will develop cognitive decline. The study is designed to identify early brain-relationship patterns that could guide future, personalized therapies. Participants may undergo multiple imaging sessions and cognitive assessments over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better prediction of cognitive decline in MS and inform personalized approaches to preserve thinking skills.
How similar studies have gone: Previous imaging studies have linked brain network changes to cognitive performance in MS, but this project seeks deeper, longitudinal, multi-modal insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gauthier, Susan a — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Gauthier, Susan a
Related research
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-
Understanding Cognitive Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Using Advanced Brain Imaging
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-
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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.