NIH R01 · 2024
Mechanisms of retinal degeneration in neuroinflammatory demyelinating diseases
An important question in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) is whether myelin/axonal damage in the white matter facilitates neuronal cell body loss in the gray matter, or results from two independent processes. Neurodegeneration underlies progressive decline in MS for which there is no remedy, highlighting the significance of elucidating its mechanisms. To address this question, we utilized the visual system, where all myelinated axons in the optic nerve arise from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In patients with MS, RGC loss and retinal thinning correlate with whole-brain and gray matter atrophy. Therefore, visual assessments may be a sensitive biomarker for neurodegeneration.…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.