Investigating the role of lacritin in maintaining eye surface health
Lacritin Regulation of Homeostasis and Ocular Surface Health
This study is looking at a special protein in your tears called lacritin to see how it helps keep your eyes healthy, especially for people who struggle with dry eyes, and it hopes to find new ways to help those folks feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10903813 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how a tear protein called lacritin and its variants help maintain the health of the eye's surface. It aims to identify the mechanisms by which lacritin functions and how its deficiency may lead to dry eye conditions. The study employs advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 to explore the genetic factors involved in lacritin's signaling pathways. By uncovering these details, the research seeks to develop potential therapies that could restore eye surface homeostasis in patients suffering from dry eye.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with dry eye, particularly those with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
Not a fit: Patients with dry eye caused by factors unrelated to lacritin deficiency may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for dry eye that significantly improve patients' quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with lacritin-based therapies in treating severe dry eye conditions.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laurie, Gordon William — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Laurie, Gordon William
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 below.