Protecting vision in optic neuritis by restoring cholesterol balance
Official title: Targeting Cholesterol Homeostasis to maintain vision in MS-like optic neuritis
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11415641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are working to restore cholesterol recycling in the eye and brain to protect nerve cells and help preserve vision for people with optic neuritis from MS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $297,112 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034194-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future trials would be people with optic neuritis associated with multiple sclerosis or those at high risk for MS-related vision loss.
✕Less likely to help
People with vision loss from non-demyelinating causes or with already irreversible optic nerve damage are unlikely to benefit from these approaches.
What this research studies
This project studies how disrupted cholesterol recycling harms retinal ganglion cells and remyelination in an MS-like form of optic neuritis using animal models. The team will manipulate the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, measure sterol synthesis, synaptic function, and myelin repair, and track nerve cell survival and vision-related outcomes. By testing approaches that restore cholesterol homeostasis, they hope to identify targets that could be developed into treatments to reduce vision loss from demyelinating disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new therapies that preserve or restore vision after optic neuritis by improving cholesterol handling and remyelination.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have linked cholesterol metabolism and ABCA1 to remyelination and nerve survival in animal models, but translation to human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gramlich, Oliver W — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Gramlich, Oliver W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how immune responses damage nerve cells in optic neuritis
This study is looking at how the immune system can harm nerve cells in the eyes during optic neuritis, which is often seen in multiple sclerosis, and it hopes to find new ways to protect vision by understanding the role of certain proteins in this process.
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New treatment for optic neuritis using a targeted small molecule inhibitor
This study is testing a new medication called TRE-515 to help people with optic neuritis, a condition that can cause vision problems, by targeting certain immune cells to reduce inflammation and improve vision.
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Privosegtor for optic neuritis: a late-phase test with standard care
This trial tests whether privosegtor, added to the usual methylprednisolone treatment, helps people experiencing a first episode of optic neuritis.
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Testing the 2022 Optic Neuritis Criteria in suspected cases of optic neuritis
We’re trying to see if the 2022 criteria can correctly identify optic neuritis in patients with new or recent vision problems, including people with certain antibody types.
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Early versus rescue plasma exchange for severe optic neuritis and transverse myelitis
This trial will see if starting plasma exchange early versus using it only as a rescue after high-dose steroids improves vision for adults with severe optic neuritis and improves neurologic recovery for adults with severe transverse myelitis.
-
Efgartigimod to speed vision recovery in acute optic neuritis
This pilot will test whether efgartigimod given with standard steroids helps adults having their first episode of optic neuritis regain vision faster and more fully than placebo.
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.