# Circadian Rhythms and Sleep, Structural Neuroimaging and Depression in People with Multiple Sclerosis

> **NIH NIH K01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $179,283

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This application is for a Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01). The award will provide
the candidate with enhanced skills and necessary training to build a research program that investigates the
increased burden of depression in autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) with a particular
focus on multiple sclerosis (MS). People with MS are a markedly higher risk for psychiatric comorbidities,
including depression. Estimates of lifetime prevalence of major depression in people with MS reach 50% and
are nearly twice that of those with other chronic conditions. Depression is also linked with excess MS-associated
morbidity and mortality. However, the specific mechanisms and risk factors driving the increased burden of
depression in MS are not well-understood. The goal of the proposed project is to provide the candidate with
advanced skills needed to establish an independent program focused on understanding neurobiological
mechanisms of depression people with MS that will better inform treatment and prevention strategies in this high-
risk population. The composite, comprehensive training plan proposed combines formal coursework, didactic
instruction from her mentors, applied hands-on data collection and analysis sessions and attendance at scientific
seminars and meetings. Primary training goals include 1) gaining a deeper understanding of depression biology
to better inform studies of risk and prevention, 2) experience in the assessment of depression in large population-
based research studies, 3) skills in applied structural neuroimaging analysis as tools to better understand
neuroanatomical changes as they relate to depressive symptoms. Other training goals involve gaining critical
experience in the evaluation of potential risk upstream risk factors for depression in MS. Specifically, the
candidate will receive training in sleep and circadian rhythm biology and evaluation, which are two related and
biologically plausible contributors to depression in MS. This comprehensive, composite training program will
allow the candidate to leverage existing data and infrastructure from a large on-going observational study that
has enrolled over 6,554 MS patients across 10-sites. Standardized quantitative 3-Tesla brain MRIs, depressive
symptoms and clinical information are acquired at least annually as a part of this study. She will test whether
longitudinal changes in specific brain substructure volumes are associated with depressive symptom worsening
in people with MS (Aim 1). Further, to advance our understanding of plausible, upstream depression risk factors,
she will also test if circadian rhythm disruption and sleep disturbance are potential contributors to depression
(possibly mediated through alterations to brain structure) in a subset of local MS PATHS participants (n=100;
Aim 2). Taken together, findings from these studies will be derived using a powerful longitudinal design and may
provide important...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10465047
- **Project number:** 5K01MH121582-04
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathryn C. Fitzgerald
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $179,283
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-10 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10465047

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10465047, Circadian Rhythms and Sleep, Structural Neuroimaging and Depression in People with Multiple Sclerosis (5K01MH121582-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10465047. Licensed CC0.

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