Nanol therapies to target corneal blood vessel growth
Official title: Nanotherapies for Targeted Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11581010 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tiny, targeted treatment approach aims to stop new blood vessels from growing into the cornea to protect vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $543,508 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EY037277-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11581010 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with corneal neovascularization due to injuries, inflammatory eye conditions, or grafts at risk of or showing early vessel growth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without corneal neovascularization or those with advanced disease where restoration is unlikely may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on corneal neovascularization, a condition where unwanted blood vessels invade the clear front of the eye and can blur or obscure vision. Researchers plan to use nanotherapies to interfere with the signals that drive blood vessel growth, aiming for fewer side effects than current options. The study discusses combining anti-angiogenic strategies with agents that block key growth signals to protect corneal structure and function. If successful, this could offer a more effective, localized therapy to preserve sight for people with corneal injury or disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce corneal scarring and preserve vision by preventing harmful vessel growth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous anti-angiogenic strategies have shown partial success; this project aims to improve effectiveness with targeted nanotherapies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Anjali — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Anjali
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.