Blood miR-92a test to detect diabetic eye blood vessel damage
miR-92a as a biomarker of diabetic retinopathy
This work looks for changes in a small blood RNA called miR-92a in specific circulating cells to help detect early diabetic damage to retinal blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138779 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would give a blood sample so researchers can isolate circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) and measure miR-92a along with other RNAs. The team will use sequencing and computer-based models to link RNA patterns in those cells to the health of the small blood vessels in the retina across different stages of diabetic retinopathy. They will compare findings from people with diabetes to results from mouse models to strengthen the biological link. The goal is to find a reliable RNA signature in blood that corresponds with retinal vascular damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes at various stages of diabetic retinopathy who can provide blood samples and undergo eye testing are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or with vision loss from non-diabetic eye diseases are unlikely to benefit from this specific biomarker research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simple blood-based marker that flags early retinal blood-vessel damage and helps guide timely eye care to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary human cell work and animal studies suggest miR-92a relates to retinal vascular inflammation and early machine-learning models showed promising prediction of DR, but applying miR-92a as a clinical blood biomarker is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhatwadekar, Ashay D — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Bhatwadekar, Ashay D
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.