Creating a synthetic eye implant to replace damaged corneas
Official title: Synthetic osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP, Tooth-in-Eye surgery)
Funded at Marquette University · NIH-10722533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, less invasive way to help people with severely damaged corneas by creating a synthetic eye implant that doesn't require removing a tooth, making the treatment easier and quicker for those who have had issues like chemical burns or failed eye surgeries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marquette University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $424,875 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY035480-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10722533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals, particularly children and young adults, who have experienced severe corneal damage or multiple failed corneal transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with healthy corneas or those who do not have severe corneal damage may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a synthetic osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), also known as Tooth-in-Eye surgery, which aims to improve the treatment of severely damaged corneas. The current OOKP procedure involves harvesting a patient's tooth and surrounding tissue to create a prosthesis, which can be invasive and time-consuming. The new approach seeks to simplify this process by designing a synthetic alternative that eliminates the need for tooth extraction. If successful, this innovative method could provide a less invasive option for patients suffering from severe corneal damage due to conditions like chemical burns or multiple graft failures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could offer a less invasive and more accessible treatment option for patients with severely damaged corneas.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of synthetic keratoprosthesis is being explored, this specific approach to simplify the OOKP procedure is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Marquette University
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tayebi, Lobat — Marquette University
- Study coordinator: Tayebi, Lobat
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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.