Immune causes of chronic dry eye
Official title: Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Dry Eye Disease
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11237037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| 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 start | September 30, 2010 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $587,562 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY020889-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with chronic or recurrent dry eye, especially those with ongoing inflammation or who have not found lasting relief from current therapies.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dana, Reza — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Dana, Reza
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
Preventing dry eye disease and age-related Meibomian gland dysfunction
This study is looking at how changing the support structure around eye glands might help prevent dry eye and related issues as we age, and it aims to find new ways to help people who struggle with dry eyes.
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.