How nerves help keep the cornea clear and prevent abnormal blood vessel growth
Official title: Mechanisms of Neuroregulation of Corneal Angiogenesis
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11269339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how nerve signals in the cornea help keep it free of blood vessels and how nerve loss may cause vision problems, with potential treatments to protect vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $654,589 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY038179-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11269339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with corneal nerve degeneration or neurotrophic keratopathy who are at risk of corneal angiogenesis and vision loss.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without corneal nerve damage or a risk of corneal angiogenesis may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The project studies how sensory nerves in the cornea suppress unwanted blood vessel growth and inflammation. Researchers will use an ex vivo system with vascular cells and corneal nerves, plus a mouse model where corneal nerves degenerate, to observe changes in angiogenesis. They will test whether a natural hormone pathway involving alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and its receptor can slow or prevent abnormal vessel growth in damaged corneas. The goal is to uncover mechanisms and prospective therapies that preserve corneal transparency and vision. This work could lead to new treatments for patients at risk of corneal ulcers, scarring, or transplant failure due to neovascularization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to therapies that maintain corneal clarity and protect vision by preventing harmful blood vessel growth.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that sensory nerves modulate corneal angiogenesis, and similar approaches have shown promise in related eye conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yin, Jia — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yin, Jia
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.