Targeted immune-metabolism treatment for veterans with multiple sclerosis
Official title: Biomaterials-Enabled Delivery of Immunometabolic Modulators to Improve Treatment Options for Multiple Sclerosis in Veterans
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-11213958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a biomaterials-based way to deliver immune-changing medicines to veterans with multiple sclerosis to reduce harmful inflammation while keeping normal immune defenses intact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2BX005756-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be Veterans living with multiple sclerosis who are concerned about current treatments causing broad immune suppression or who need more durable treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
People without MS or whose disability is driven mainly by irreversible neurodegeneration rather than active immune inflammation are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating a material-based delivery system to bring metabolic drugs (inspired by molecules like itaconate) directly to the immune cells that attack myelin in MS. The approach aims to limit harmful inflammation without broadly suppressing the whole immune system and to reduce how often medicines must be given. Work will use laboratory and preclinical tests to see how well the delivery system controls specific immune cell activity and inflammation. The project focuses on therapies that could be especially relevant to Veterans, who have higher rates of MS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer MS patients more effective control of disease activity with fewer doses and lower risk of dangerous immune suppression.
How similar studies have gone: Drugs that alter immune cell metabolism (for example, dimethyl fumarate) have helped relapsing MS, but using biomaterials to deliver metabolites like itaconate is a newer and less-tested strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kapnick, Senta — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kapnick, Senta
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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.