Diet and the gut microbiome have emerged as important factors in regulating the pathobiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.

Drs. Ashutosh Mangalam, Hans-Joachim Lehmler and Christina Camell were awarded a Collaborative Iowa-Minnesota Pilot and Feasibility Grant from the UI Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center.

Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam received a four-year VA Merit Award entitled, “Effect of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in the Pathobiology of Multiple Sclerosis”.

Stephanie Peterson, a Ph.D. student performing her thesis work in the laboratory of Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam, was selected as a trainee on the Immunology Pre-doctoral T32 training grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This funding will support Stephanie’s research exploring the role of high fructose diets in the predisposition and/or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis utilizing animal models.

Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD, in collaboration with Michael Wannemuehler, professor and chair, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, was awarded a seed grant award from University of Iowa-Iowa State University (UI-ISU) Partnership Seed Grant Program.