Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The University of Kentucky Research Foundation a Project Grant of $662,969 on June 19, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. This award supports research to improve disease-modifying therapy (DMT) uptake among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), with research performance occurring through May 31, 2030. The project leverages real-world electronic health record (EHR) data from four large academic medical centers—the University of Kentucky, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and University of Southern California—to examine disparities in MS treatment and management outcomes across diverse populations.

The research deliverables include a comprehensive analysis of whether differences exist in timely DMT treatment initiation across MS populations; disparities in symptom and comorbidity management; the influence of non-medical factors (patient-level income and education, provider-level linguistically appropriate care provision, and system-level neighborhood factors) on clinical outcomes; and assessment of cardiovascular disease and mortality risk disparities among MS subgroups. By synthesizing and harmonizing deidentified EHR data from the participating institutions, this project addresses the growing public health burden of MS in the United States and contributes evidence to inform policy and clinical practice improvements that reduce health disparities in MS care and outcomes.