Innate immunity and herpes-related retinal blindness
Official title: Innate Immunity to Viral Infection of the Retina
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11391017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the eye’s first-line immune defenses respond to herpes viruses that can cause sudden, painful retinal damage and vision loss, with aims to protect sight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $234,732 |
| NIH project number | 5K08EY034892-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for acute retinal necrosis or clinicians who may benefit from new therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ARN or related retinal infections may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project focuses on understanding how the retina’s innate immune system reacts to HSV-1 infection using mouse models and human retinal cells, with the goal of guiding new therapies to preserve vision. The research combines studying early immune signals, especially type I interferons and retinal microglia, with advanced lab techniques to map how the virus triggers damage. The training component will help the clinician-scientist develop skills in immunology, virology, and retinal biology, enabling translation from bench to bedside. If successful, findings could inform future treatments that reduce vision-threatening complications from ARN.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies that preserve sight in patients at risk of ARN by strengthening the retina’s own antiviral defenses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that innate immune signals can influence viral control, but direct links to retinal HSV-1 defense are still being explored, making this approach promising but exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conrady, Christopher Dale — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Conrady, Christopher Dale
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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.