How hormones and the pituitary may affect keratoconus
Official title: The Intimate Interplay Between Keratoconus, Sex Hormones, and the Anterior Pituitary
Funded at University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr · NIH-11262874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether sex hormones and pituitary signals change the cornea in people with keratoconus to help explain why the disease starts and progresses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,545 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035510-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with keratoconus who are willing to provide clinical information and biological samples such as blood, tears, or corneal tissue.
✕Less likely to help
People without keratoconus or with unrelated eye conditions would not be expected to receive direct benefit from participating in this work.
What this research studies
This work will compare hormone signals and molecular markers in corneas, tears, and blood from people with keratoconus and from people without the condition. Researchers will measure levels of sex hormones, gonadotropins, and a hormone-regulated protein called PIP, and will look for related receptors in corneal tissue. Laboratory experiments using patient-derived corneal cells and tissues will test how these hormones change cell behavior and corneal structure. The research aims to link hormone changes to disease onset, progression, and possible recurrence after transplant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new diagnostic markers or hormone-targeted approaches that slow or prevent keratoconus progression.
How similar studies have gone: Early work, including from this research team, has identified hormone-linked markers like PIP and changes in GnRH in keratoconus, but hormone-driven mechanisms are still a relatively new and unproven explanation.
Where this research is happening
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University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karamichos, Dimitrios — University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Karamichos, Dimitrios
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Engineered Cornea Chip to Study Keratoconus Curvature
A patient-friendly model of keratoconus will be created on a tiny, engineered eye chip to study how shape changes affect eye tissue and to identify potential new treatments.
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Cell and genetic causes of keratoconus
Researchers are analyzing cell changes and genes in people with keratoconus to find early warning signs and new treatment targets.
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Wide-view cornea imaging to detect keratoconus
This project is building a wide-field corneal OCT scan to spot tiny early changes in the cornea in people with or at risk for keratoconus.
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Exploring the connection between keratoconus and sex hormones
This study is looking at how sex hormones might affect keratoconus, an eye condition that can worsen vision, to help find better ways to manage it and improve care for people dealing with this issue.
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Improving early detection of keratoconus using advanced imaging technology
This study is testing a new imaging technology that helps doctors spot keratoconus earlier by taking detailed pictures of the eye's surface, which could lead to better treatment and help protect your vision.
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Preventing cell death in corneal cells to treat keratoconus without surgery
This study is looking for new ways to help people with keratoconus, a condition that affects vision by thinning the cornea, by finding treatments that can keep important cells in the eye alive and healthy.
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.