Understanding how sphingolipid changes cause immune-nerve damage in ALS
Official title: Regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis and motor neuron disease
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11384898 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins team tests how abnormal lipid production may drive motor neuron disease in people with ALS, using patient-derived cells and mouse models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,367 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS138167-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384898 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ALS or ALS-like motor neuron disease whose cells are used to create iPSC models or whose samples may be used for validation studies.
✕Less likely to help
The study primarily uses cellular and animal models; direct benefit to any individual patient is not guaranteed.
What this research studies
This project looks at how overactive sphingolipid production may harm motor neurons in ALS. Researchers will study patient-derived cells and genetically modified mice to map the lipid pathways involved. They will explore how excess sphingolipids affect neuron survival and identify potential targets for therapy. The work aims to connect cellular findings to disease features seen in ALS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal new targets for therapies that slow or halt motor neuron degeneration in ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models using patient-derived cells and mouse models have shown that lipid pathways can influence motor neuron survival, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohassel, Payam — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mohassel, Payam
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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.