Corneal healing problems in diabetes
Mechanisms of epithelial alterations in diabetic cornea
This work tries gene, nanotherapy, and cell-based approaches to help adults with diabetes heal corneal wounds and reduce pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124156 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with diabetes have slow corneal wound healing, recurrent erosions, and nerve problems that hurt vision and cause pain. The team has found molecular markers that are changed in diabetic corneas and used gene-based and nanobioconjugate treatments in lab-grown corneas to restore normal marker levels and improve healing. They also found epigenetic changes that suppress helpful factors and are testing a demethylating drug and making induced pluripotent stem cells from diabetic corneal cells to remove harmful epigenetic signatures and regenerate healthier corneal cells. Work combines experiments on human corneal tissue, cell cultures, organ-culture models, and advanced molecular therapies aimed at restoring normal wound healing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diabetes who have corneal problems such as delayed wound healing, recurrent erosions, ulcers, or diabetic corneal neuropathy would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetic-related corneal disease, those with unrelated eye conditions, or patients with end-stage vision loss not caused by corneal problems may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these approaches could speed corneal healing, reduce pain and recurrent erosions, and help preserve vision in people with diabetic corneal disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab and organ-culture work has restored healing and stem cell markers in human corneal tissues, but clinical use in people remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ljubimov, Alexander V — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ljubimov, Alexander V
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.