Bone marrow repair cells that help the injured retina
Hematopoietic cell mobilization from distinct bone marrow compartments following retinal injury
This project looks at whether repair cells from different bone marrow sites, especially the skull, help protect and heal the retina in people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098678 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers study myeloid angiogenic cells (MACs), bone marrow-derived cells that support blood vessel repair in the retina, comparing those that come from the skull (calvaria) versus long bones. They use mouse models of diabetes, human cell samples, and imaging and molecular tests to measure cholesterol, membrane fluidity, cell migration, and nerve supply differences between marrow sites. The team tests whether activating Liver X receptor (LXR) can restore MAC function and improve retinal blood-vessel repair in diabetes. Results aim to explain why skull marrow may resist diabetic damage and to point toward therapies that boost reparative cells to protect vision.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who have retinal vascular damage or early diabetic retinopathy and who are willing to provide blood or tissue samples or take part in clinic visits.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or whose eye problems are caused by trauma or non-vascular conditions are unlikely to benefit from these specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that improve repair-cell function and help prevent or slow vision loss from diabetic retinal damage.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and cell studies showed that LXR activation can restore MAC membrane fluidity and improve retinal repair in diabetic mice, but translating this approach to people remains untested.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grant, Maria Bartolomeo — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Grant, Maria Bartolomeo
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.