How a vitamin A–related molecule controls eye growth in myopia
Official title: Mechanisms of axial elongation in myopia
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11305986 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a molecule called all-trans retinoic acid influences how the eye lengthens in people with myopia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,024 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033361-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11305986 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with progressive myopia—especially children and young adults whose eyes are still lengthening—would be most relevant to findings and future clinical work.
✕Less likely to help
Those with stable, low myopia or vision loss from unrelated eye diseases are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic-science project in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers will measure levels of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) in different layers at the back of the eye and track how those levels change over time using mouse models and tissue assays. They will link atRA changes to alterations in the scleral extracellular matrix, the tissue that surrounds and stabilizes the eyeball. Engineering and transport models will be used to map how atRA might move across the choroid to reach the sclera and drive axial elongation. Together these lab and modeling approaches aim to pinpoint the signals that cause the eye to grow too long in myopia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to slow or stop eye elongation and reduce the risk of sight-threatening high myopia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies and preliminary data support a role for atRA in eye growth, but translating these findings into human treatments remains novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pardue, Machelle T. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Pardue, Machelle T.
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PICNIC: Factors inside the eye linked to childhood near-sightedness
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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.