Immune causes of chronic dry eye
Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Dry Eye Disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · NIH-11237037
This work looks at how certain immune cells make dry eye persist in adults and aims to point toward better, longer-lasting treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11237037 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on immune cells called Th17 and regulatory T cells to understand why dry eye becomes chronic and damaging to the eye surface. They will use laboratory experiments alongside animal models and human tissue or sample analysis to trace how immune memory cells cause ongoing inflammation. The team will study why current FDA-approved treatments often have limited benefit or cause side effects that lead people to stop treatment. Results will be used to identify new targets for therapies that could be safer and more effective for people with persistent dry eye.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with chronic or recurrent dry eye, especially those with ongoing inflammation or who have not found lasting relief from current therapies.
Not a fit: People with short-term, situational dry eye or dryness caused only by eyelid anatomy, contact lens use, or purely environmental factors may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that reduce chronic eye inflammation and scarring while causing fewer side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab and animal studies strongly implicate Th17 immune cells in dry eye, so this approach is supported by preclinical work but still needs translation into proven patient therapies.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: DANA, REZA — SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- Study coordinator: DANA, REZA
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.