Understanding Brain Changes and Repair in Early Multiple Sclerosis

Cortical Demyelination and Repair in Early Multiple Sclerosis.

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11145927

This project looks closely at how brain damage happens and might heal in people with early multiple sclerosis, using advanced imaging.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11145927 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can cause damage in the brain, especially in areas called white matter, which are often the focus of current treatments. However, damage in the brain's outer layer, called the cortex, is also common and strongly linked to disability, even early in the disease. We are using new, very powerful MRI techniques to see these cortical lesions in living patients and track how they form and potentially repair. Our goal is to better understand what causes these lesions and how they affect the disease's progression over time. This deeper understanding could lead to new ways to help manage MS.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults aged 21 and older who are in the early stages of Multiple Sclerosis.

Not a fit: Patients with advanced MS or those not meeting the age criteria may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of how MS causes disability and potentially new treatment targets for cortical lesions.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific ultra-high field MRI methods are new, previous work by this team and others has shown that cortical lesions are common and linked to disability in MS.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions CNS DiseasesCNS disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.