Investigating how fatty acid metabolism affects optic nerve development
Official title: Role of fatty acid metabolism in optic nerve hypoplasia
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11177038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a lack of certain fats in a mother's diet might affect the development of optic nerve hypoplasia, a condition that can cause blindness in children, and it hopes to find out if giving pregnant women extra of these fats could help protect their babies from this issue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033391-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women, particularly those with a history of unhealthy lifestyles or young maternal age, who may be at risk for having children with optic nerve hypoplasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those whose optic nerve hypoplasia is not related to fatty acid metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), a condition that leads to childhood blindness due to underdeveloped optic nerves. The study examines how fatty acid metabolism, particularly the deficiency of arachidonic acid, may contribute to the development of ONH. Using mouse models, researchers will explore the relationship between maternal health, fatty acid levels, and the risk of ONH. The goal is to understand whether dietary supplementation of arachidonic acid during pregnancy could help prevent or mitigate this condition in newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new dietary recommendations for pregnant women to reduce the risk of childhood blindness associated with optic nerve hypoplasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of fatty acids in neurological development, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Konark — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Konark
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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.