How specific T cells affect eye diseases and pain
Official title: Impact of tissue resident memory T cells on the neuro-immunepathophysiology of anterior eye disease
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11047658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special immune cells in the eye, called tissue resident memory T cells, might be involved in causing and keeping eye problems like dry eye, and it hopes to find new ways to help people who suffer from ongoing eye pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | March 8, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $514,844 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033712-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11047658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing persistent ocular pain due to anterior eye diseases, such as dry eye.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with anterior eye diseases who do not experience chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of a unique type of T cell, known as tissue resident memory T cells (TRM), in the development and persistence of anterior eye diseases like dry eye. By using a mouse model that mimics human conditions, the researchers aim to understand how these T cells interact with pain receptors in the eye and contribute to inflammation. The study will involve infecting mice with an ocular pathogen to create a more accurate representation of human TRM, allowing for targeted manipulation of these cells to assess their impact on ocular health. This approach could lead to new insights into treating persistent ocular pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from chronic eye pain and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using TRM in this context is relatively novel, similar studies have shown promise in understanding immune responses in other conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skorput, Alexander — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Skorput, Alexander
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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.