# Childhood stress and multiple sclerosis: implications on risk and clinical outcomes

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2020 · $40,834

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
My career goal is to become a leading epidemiologist investigating the causes of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset
and progression. MS is a complex disease involving both genetic and environmental factors, and I believe it is
not sufficient to study single exposures or siloed genetic, environmental, or social causes. My long-term
research will reflect this complexity by incorporating genetic, social, and environmental factors into models of
MS causation and progression and specifically emphasize gene-environment interactions. One environmental
factor that has been implicated in the development and exacerbation of MS in adults is stress, but it is unclear
whether stress in childhood and its interaction with genes affects MS risk or clinical phenotypes. The objective
of this proposed research project is to investigate whether childhood stressful life events, and their interaction
with genetic variants, contribute to risk of MS and long-term physical disability and cognitive impairment
among MS patients. A critical barrier to making progress in this area of MS research has been the inability to
collect high quality clinical outcomes data. To address this barrier, we will use the new, validated web-based
tool, ‘ICLIC-MS’ or Internet Interface for Clinical and Longitudinal Information Collection for MS, to
longitudinally collect MS-validated measures of cognitive function and physical disability. Aim 1: Test for
gene-environment interaction between genetic risk variants and childhood stressful life events on MS risk. We
will conduct a case-control study using 13,500 participants from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California
(KPNC) MS Research Program. Aim 2: Estimate the association between childhood stressful life events and
physical disability among MS patients overall and across genetic susceptibilities. Aim 3: Estimate the
association between childhood stressful life events and cognition among individuals with MS overall and across
genetic susceptibilities. We will estimate the associations in Aims 2 and 3 among >1,000 KPNC MS cases cross-
sectionally and longitudinally over three years. By establishing whether childhood stress interacts with genetic
variants to affect MS risk, cognition, or physical disability, we might be able to target at-risk populations for
psychosocial and clinical interventions, potentially reducing risk of MS, limiting progression, and improving
quality of life for individuals living with MS. This research project and associated training plan were developed
in collaboration with my sponsor, Dr. Lisa Barcellos, and co-sponsors, Drs. Emmanuelle Waubant and William
Jagust. The training plan emphasizes scientific productivity and building a strong knowledge of epidemiologic
and biostatistical methods, the social and biological basis of stress, and MS processes. As a student at UC
Berkeley, I am well supported by an institution that values rigorous scientific research and have access to many
research and profession...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10007917
- **Project number:** 5F31NS108668-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Horton
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $40,834
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2021-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10007917

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10007917, Childhood stress and multiple sclerosis: implications on risk and clinical outcomes (5F31NS108668-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10007917. Licensed CC0.

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