Protecting vision in optic neuritis by restoring cholesterol balance
Targeting Cholesterol Homeostasis to maintain vision in MS-like optic neuritis
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 ID | NIH-11415641 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People with vision loss from non-demyelinating causes or with already irreversible optic nerve damage are unlikely to benefit from these approaches.
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 performed: 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
Birmingham, United States
- 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
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.