Inflammaging and Diabetic Retinopathy in Adults
Official title: Inflammaging and Diabetic Retinopathy
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11365932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH-funded project looks at why diabetes causes dangerous eye damage and how it might be prevented to preserve sight for adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $469,854 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034684-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365932 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diabetes at risk for or living with diabetic retinopathy may be eligible for related future trials or receive information that could guide treatments.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or without retinal disease may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how high blood sugar leads to aging-like damage in the cells lining the eye’s blood vessels, contributing to diabetic retinopathy. Researchers will study cellular changes, including how certain proteins and tiny vesicles may drive inflammation and degeneration in retinal cells. The goal is to identify new ideas that could stop or slow vision loss for people with diabetes, using human retinal cell models and related tissues. Findings could pave the way for earlier interventions that protect vision in adults with diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent or lessen vision loss in adults with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: There is emerging evidence linking cellular aging processes to diabetic eye disease, with some studies suggesting this pathway as a promising target; this project builds on that foundation with a novel focus on senescence and inflammatory signaling.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bartoli, Manuela — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Bartoli, Manuela
Related research
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Ultrafast eye imaging to detect and track diabetic retinopathy
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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.