Investigating how cell death pathways affect bacterial infections in diabetic patients' eyes
Official title: Role of Programmed Cell Death Pathways in Bacterial Keratitis
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11035084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why people with diabetes are more likely to get serious eye infections from certain bacteria, using mice to see how these infections develop faster in diabetes, with the hope of finding better ways to prevent and treat these infections for diabetic patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $433,576 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035785-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are diabetic patients, particularly those experiencing eye infections or at risk for bacterial keratitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those not experiencing eye infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding why diabetic patients are more susceptible to severe bacterial infections in the cornea, particularly from bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Using mouse models of diabetes, the study examines how these infections progress more rapidly in diabetic conditions compared to non-diabetic ones. Researchers will employ advanced techniques like RNA sequencing to identify specific genes and biological processes that contribute to this increased susceptibility. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for bacterial keratitis in diabetic patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and preventive measures for bacterial infections in the eyes of diabetic patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the genetic and biological factors in infections can lead to significant advancements in treatment, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Fu-Shin X — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Yu, Fu-Shin X
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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.