Diabetic cornea: new ways to restore healing and comfort
Official title: Mechanisms of epithelial alterations in diabetic cornea
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11418873 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing new gene and nano therapies to help the cornea heal better in adults with diabetes.
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 start | August 1, 2001 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $417,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY013431-23 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418873 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diabetes who experience corneal problems and impaired wound healing.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetic corneal disease or those whose condition does not respond to the tested approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project targets the cornea, a clear front part of the eye, in adults with diabetes who often suffer from painful and slow-healing corneal problems. Building on prior work, the team uses gene therapies and tiny nanoconjugates to normalize markers of healing and improve stem cell function in corneal tissue, with the aim of speeding wound repair. It also explores epigenetic factors that may contribute to diabetic complications and looks for safe ways to reverse those changes. The work includes lab studies on human corneas and cultured eye tissue to test approaches before any potential clinical steps.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better, faster healing of diabetic corneal injuries and reduced pain for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that non-toxic nanobioconjugates and epigenetic approaches can normalize corneal healing in lab models, supporting potential.
Where this research is happening
-
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.