Investigating how bile acid receptors affect vision problems in premature infants
Official title: Bile acid receptor signaling in retinopathy of prematurity
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11300797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how oxygen exposure after birth affects the eyes of premature babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and is testing a special receptor that might help protect their eyesight, with the goal of finding safer treatments to prevent serious problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $385,000 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EY034568-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are premature infants who are at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity due to oxygen exposure after birth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature or do not have retinopathy of prematurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness in premature infants. It examines how exposure to oxygen after birth disrupts normal retinal growth, leading to complications like abnormal blood vessel growth and potential retinal detachment. The study explores the role of a specific receptor, the farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR), which may help protect retinal cells and improve outcomes for affected infants. By restoring FXR signaling, the research aims to develop safer treatment options that could prevent severe side effects associated with current interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce the risk of blindness in premature infants suffering from ROP.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using FXR agonists for protective effects in models of retinopathy, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Butyrate-based approach to prevent vision loss in premature babies with retinopathy
A study is exploring whether increasing butyrate levels can prevent vision-damaging retinopathy in premature infants by addressing gut bacteria and metabolic pathways.
-
TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
-
Long-term endotypes of prematurity-related lung disease in former preemies
A long-term study looking at why some babies born very early develop lasting breathing problems and how their genes might explain these different paths.
-
Deep learning tool to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity in newborns
A new AI-based diagnostic tool uses eye images from premature babies to help clinicians identify treatment-needed retinopathy of prematurity.
-
Cortical dystonia in kids born early
Researchers are studying why premature birth leads to dystonia in cerebral palsy and looking for new ways to help children and adults who have this condition.
-
AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
Using faster handheld wide-field eye scans plus AI to find early signs of retinopathy of prematurity in premature babies and help guide treatment.
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.