Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Ohio State University $611,634 on May 15, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) to support research investigating age-associated expansion of natural IgM+ FCRL5+ B cell clones as drivers of progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) and potential therapeutic targets. The research will be conducted at the university's Columbus, Ohio facility through April 30, 2031. This project addresses a critical clinical gap in understanding CNS (central nervous system)-resident immune mechanisms that drive progressive neurological decline in PMS, particularly among older adults, where current immunotherapies demonstrate limited efficacy.

The research deliverables will include mechanistic characterization of clonally expanded, innate-like B cell populations (termed BACi cells) identified in meningeal tissues, antigen specificity analysis of these CNS-compartmentalized B cell subsets, and pathogenic functional assessment using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal models that recapitulate key PMS features. The project aims to generate fundamental knowledge that informs more precise, CNS-targeted therapeutic strategies superior to broadly depleting B cell therapies, potentially reducing infectious risk while improving clinical outcomes in the aging PMS population.