Dietary fats and blood vessel growth in premature babies' eyes
Dietary control of angiogenesis in retinopathy models
Looking at whether giving both DHA (an omega‑3) and arachidonic acid (an omega‑6) can protect premature infants' retinas from the damage that leads to retinopathy of prematurity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses lab models that mimic early vessel loss seen in retinopathy of prematurity to study how DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) affect the retina. Researchers will give DHA alone and DHA plus AA in a phase 1 retinal disease model and compare outcomes for vessel growth and retinal neuron function. They will examine how these fats change retinal mitochondrial and peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and overall retinal metabolism. The aim is to learn the biological steps by which DHA and AA might prevent disease so safer, physiology‑based nutritional approaches can be developed for preterm infants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The main beneficiaries would be very preterm infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, especially those with low blood levels of long‑chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Not a fit: Children who are not premature or infants whose ROP is already advanced and requiring surgical or injectable treatments may not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, combining DHA and AA could lead to safer nutritional strategies that reduce the risk of severe ROP and protect vision in premature infants.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies found DHA alone prevented ROP in some but not all cases, so combining DHA with AA is a promising but not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Lois — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Smith, Lois
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.