Immune factors driving long-term eye damage from nitrogen mustard exposure
Official title: Immune Mechanisms of Chronic Ocular Damage after Acute Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11418998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project explores how immune responses contribute to chronic eye damage after nitrogen mustard exposure, aiming to improve care for people at risk.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035215-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with mustard exposure risk or a history of mustard-related eye injury who may benefit from future therapies, as well as researchers studying ocular inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure history or ocular inflammatory disease related to mustard agents may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse model of nitrogen mustard–related eye injury to study persistent corneal problems and limbal stem cell loss. Researchers will map immune cells and inflammatory signals, focusing on the Th17 pathway, to understand how chronic damage develops. The goal is to identify targets that could lead to better, lasting treatments for mustard-related eye disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reveal new ways to prevent or reduce chronic eye damage after mustard exposure, potentially preserving vision.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies have shown Th17 involvement in mustard-related inflammation, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
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.