Immune causes of long-term eye damage after nitrogen mustard exposure
Official title: Immune Mechanisms of Chronic Ocular Damage after Acute Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11181583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Learning whether immune reactions drive lasting corneal damage after exposure to nitrogen or sulfur mustard, to help people with mustard-related eye injuries.
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, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $585,224 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035215-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had ocular exposure to mustard agents or who are living with chronic mustard gas keratopathy would be the primary group whose care could eventually benefit from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with routine age-related eye disease or corneal problems unrelated to chemical/vesicant exposure are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
Researchers use a laboratory model that recreates chronic mustard gas keratopathy to study how the immune system harms the cornea over time. They focus on a type of immune cell response called Th17 and map immune changes that coincide with loss of corneal stem cells, nerve damage, and cloudy vision. Experiments include detailed immune profiling and tests in animals to see whether blocking specific immune signals can prevent or reduce chronic damage. The goal is to find immune pathways that could become targets for treatments to protect vision after mustard exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to immune-based treatments that prevent or reduce long-term corneal damage and vision loss after mustard agent exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked Th17-driven inflammation to chronic lung and eye problems after mustard exposure, but immune-targeted therapies for mustard gas keratopathy remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
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Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yihe — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yihe
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.