Published May 1, 2023, by the UCLA Newsroom
LOS ANGELES, CA – Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, professor of neurology and the Jack H. Skirball Professor of Multiple Sclerosis Research at UCLA, has received a $7.3 million Research Program Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to investigate how brain region–specific and cell–specific mechanisms drive worsening disabilities in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Unlike traditional “one-size-fits-all” approaches, Voskuhl’s research recognizes that MS disabilities vary widely among patients. Her eight-year study will analyze how age and sex affect gene expression in distinct brain cells and regions linked to specific disabilities, with the goal of developing personalized, neuroprotective therapies for men and women at different stages of life.
As director of the UCLA MS Program, Voskuhl has pioneered sex differences research and led clinical trials of estrogen-based treatments that protect the brain and improve cognition. Her discoveries have led to UCLA patents, now licensed by CleopatraRX, aimed at preventing cognitive decline in menopausal women.
“An award of this magnitude enables a comprehensive approach to uncover how age and sex influence brain cell–specific and region–specific changes in MS,” said Voskuhl. “Together, this knowledge can guide the discovery of treatments tailored to repair disabilities for both women and men across the lifespan.”
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About UCLA Health: UCLA Health is among the nation’s leading academic medical systems, recognized for excellence in patient care, research, and medical education. The Department of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is internationally renowned for advancing understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Through innovation and collaboration, UCLA Health scientists continue to translate laboratory discoveries into therapies that improve lives worldwide.
About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health, is the nation’s leading supporter of research on the brain and nervous system. NINDS aims to reduce the burden of neurological disease by advancing fundamental knowledge, developing new treatments, and supporting clinical studies that improve brain health across the lifespan.
About CleopatraRX™: CleopatraRX™ is a women’s health company dedicated to improving brain health during menopause through targeted hormone replacement therapy. Its patented PearlPAK® treatment is based on discoveries made in Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl’s UCLA laboratory and is the only menopause therapy designed to support cognition by activating estrogen receptors in the brain. Through its integrated telehealth platform, CleopatraRX is redefining how women manage cognitive symptoms during midlife and beyond..