Understanding how oxygen-like treatments can help with multiple sclerosis
Official title: Evaluating the therapeutic potential of hypoxia mimetics in inflammatory demyelinating disease
Funded at San Diego Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11141745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how new medications that mimic low-oxygen conditions might help people recover from multiple sclerosis by protecting the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $654,426 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS138923-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for future patients with inflammatory demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis who could benefit from new therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have inflammatory demyelinating diseases or are not candidates for treatments targeting blood-brain barrier integrity may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to the brain and spinal cord, often starting with a weakened blood-brain barrier that allows harmful cells to enter. Our team previously found that mild low-oxygen conditions helped animals with an MS-like condition recover faster and reduced disability. This protection was linked to stronger blood vessels and better removal of harmful cells. We also discovered that certain drugs, called hypoxia mimetics, can create similar protective effects. This project aims to find the best way to use these drugs and understand exactly how they work to improve recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new drug treatments that improve recovery and reduce disability for individuals living with multiple sclerosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work by this team has shown that both mild low-oxygen conditions and hypoxia mimetic drugs accelerate neurological recovery in animal models of MS.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Milner, D. Richard — San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Milner, D. Richard
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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.