How immune responses cause long-term eye damage after nitrogen mustard exposure
Immune Mechanisms of Chronic Ocular Damage after Acute Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard
Researchers are looking at how immune cells lead to lasting cornea injury after sudden nitrogen mustard exposure to help people with mustard gas–related eye damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Schepens Eye Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11422169 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have long-term cornea damage after mustard exposure, this work looks at what the immune system is doing in the eye. The team uses a laboratory mouse model that shows the same chronic corneal wounds, stem cell loss, nerve injury, and clouding seen in people. They examine immune cells in the cornea with a special focus on Th17-type inflammation and how it may drive ongoing damage. The goal is to find immune signals that could point to targeted treatments to prevent or reduce mustard gas keratopathy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who were exposed to sulfur or nitrogen mustard and now have chronic corneal problems, scarring, or vision impairment are the most relevant population.
Not a fit: People with unrelated eye conditions or without any history of mustard-agent exposure are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to immune-based targets that lead to treatments preventing or reducing chronic mustard-related corneal damage and vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Immune-driven (Th17) mechanisms have been linked to chronic lung injury after mustard exposure, but applying this approach to mustard gas keratopathy of the eye is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Schepens Eye Research Institute — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yihe — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yihe
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.