Butyrate-based approach to prevent vision loss in premature babies with retinopathy
Official title: Short-chain fatty acid signaling in retinopathy of prematurity
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11507422 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is exploring whether increasing butyrate levels can prevent vision-damaging retinopathy in premature infants by addressing gut bacteria and metabolic pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $198,747 |
| NIH project number | 7R56EY035336-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11507422 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are premature infants at risk for ROP or families participating in related clinical studies at collaborating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Infants without the risk factors for ROP or those not accessible for non-invasive gut/blood analyses may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on retinopathy of prematurity, a condition affecting prematurely born babies that can lead to blindness. Researchers have found that low butyrate, a gut-associated molecule, may be linked to this disease and will test butyrate as a potentially safe, non-invasive therapy in relevant animal models and, if applicable, human samples. The team aims to identify how butyrate and gut bacteria influence retinal blood vessel development and ischemia, with the goal of stopping or slowing abnormal vessel growth. The work builds on preliminary data showing reduced butyrate in infants who develop ROP and in mouse models, suggesting a new treatment pathway that could be translated to patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could offer a non-invasive way to reduce or prevent vision loss from ROP in premature infants.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in humans and animal models suggest butyrate can modulate retinal pathology and support further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jadeja, Ravirajsinh — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Jadeja, Ravirajsinh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
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AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
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Retinopathy of Prematurity: Using AI to Improve How We Watch for Change in Preterm Babies' Eyes
A Duke study is using artificial intelligence to analyze baby eye images and other retinal data to make monitoring for retinopathy of prematurity easier and less stressful for preterm infants.
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.