Eye drops that block HIF-1 for wet macular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization
Official title: Topical delivery of HIF-1 inhibitors for retinal and choroidal vascular diseases
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11118836 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Trying an eye drop that blocks HIF‑1 to reduce abnormal blood vessel growth in people with wet age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,191 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036027-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118836 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration or choroidal neovascularization, particularly those with suboptimal response to anti‑VEGF injections or difficulty keeping frequent clinic appointments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non‑neovascular (dry) AMD, extensive scarred or end‑stage retinal damage, or known allergies to the drug components are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This work is developing an eye-drop form of a drug that stops HIF‑1, a protein that drives abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye, so patients could treat themselves instead of getting injections. The team has shown in mouse models that HIF‑1 blockers delivered inside the eye can prevent retinal and choroidal neovascularization. They will optimize formulations and dosing to reach effective drug levels without toxicity and test delivery approaches that could be used at home. The goal is a non-invasive, longer‑lasting alternative to frequent clinic injections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide a safe, self‑administered eye drop that reduces abnormal vessel growth, slows vision loss, and cuts down on the need for frequent injections.
How similar studies have gone: Anti‑VEGF injections are effective for many patients, but targeting HIF‑1 and using topical delivery is a newer approach that has mainly been tested in animals and is not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ensign, Laura — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ensign, Laura
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Topical HIF-1 inhibitors to treat retinal and choroidal vascular diseases
A Johns Hopkins team is testing eye drops that block HIF-1 to help people with retinal and choroidal blood vessel problems respond better to treatment.
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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.