A newly discovered cause of diabetic eye disease
A new pathogenic mechanism for diabetic retinopathy
This work looks at how a fat-regulating protein called PPARα and the drug fenofibrate affect immune cells in the eye of people with diabetes to help prevent vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115688 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying why inflammation in the retina happens in diabetes by focusing on microglia, the eye’s immune cells, and a regulator called PPARα. They use a combination of human retinal samples, animal models with PPARα removed or activated, and laboratory tests of cell signaling (including cGAS-STING and mitochondrial function). The team tests whether fenofibrate or restoring PPARα can reduce microglial activation, retinal inflammation, and damage. Results are intended to link the drug’s protective effects to specific molecular steps and point toward therapies that reduce vision-threatening changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes—especially those with early diabetic retinopathy or signs of retinal inflammation—would be the most relevant candidates for related studies or future trials.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with end-stage, irreversible retinal damage are unlikely to benefit directly from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that reduce retinal inflammation and slow or prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have performed: Large clinical trials have shown that fenofibrate can slow diabetic retinopathy progression, but how it works in the eye is still not fully understood.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Jian-Xing Jay — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ma, Jian-Xing Jay
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.