How low oxygen helps the eye lens develop
Official title: Hypoxia regulation of the lens
Funded at Florida Atlantic University · NIH-11251264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how very low oxygen in the developing eye helps lens cells turn on the genes they need to become clear and healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida Atlantic University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boca Raton, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2019 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $381,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY029708-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with lens problems (for example, cataracts) or people willing to donate eye tissue for research would be the most relevant participants or contributors.
✕Less likely to help
People without lens or eye conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
If you care about lens health, this work explores why parts of the developing lens live in low-oxygen conditions and how that low oxygen tells lens cells to make the proteins they need to become transparent. Researchers focus on the hypoxia response molecule HIF1a and its partner proteins, using laboratory tissue work and genetically modified animal models to change oxygen levels or remove these regulators. They will examine changes in gene activity and epigenetic marks as lens cells mature and lose organelles. The team aims to connect those molecular changes to normal lens formation and to defects that can lead to clouding.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these oxygen-driven pathways could lead to new ways to prevent or treat lens clouding such as cataracts.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab and animal studies have shown that oxygen levels and HIF1a influence lens development, but translating that to patient treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kantorow, Marc — Florida Atlantic University
- Study coordinator: Kantorow, Marc
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using MRI to measure brain oxygen levels as an early sign of small vessel disease in the brain
This study is looking at how measuring oxygen levels in the brain with MRI can help spot early signs of small vessel disease, which is linked to memory problems and dementia, especially Alzheimer's, so if you're at risk due to age or high blood pressure, you might be able to participate in MRI scans to learn more about
-
HIF-driven ways to repair damaged lungs in IPF
A doctor-researcher is testing how low-oxygen signals (HIF) could help restore healthy lung tissue in people with IPF.
-
Neonatal Brain Injury Protection with New Purine Compounds
A new medication approach using purine derivatives is being studied to protect newborn brains from injury caused by limited blood flow and oxygen during birth.
-
Aldo-keto reductase (AKR) helps brain BH4 levels after injury
This grant tests whether brain AKR enzymes can boost BH4 levels and support better brain function after hypoxia-ischemia-related injury.
-
Dual-hypoxia and proliferation PET biomarker for recurrent glioblastoma
A study using a special PET imaging approach to map oxygen-poor areas and cell growth in recurrent brain tumors to guide treatment decisions.
-
How low oxygen and genetic tweaks may repair mitochondrial problems linked to Alzheimer’s and other disorders
A Johns Hopkins-style? (Note: institution specified later) patient-facing overview: researchers will study tiny cell power stations in mitochondria to see if low-oxygen conditions and specific genetic changes can fix problems associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
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.