New contact lenses that deliver cysteamine to treat cystinosis
Official title: Sustained cysteamine delivery by nanobarrier contact lenses to replace 8xdaily drops with a daily disposable lens
Funded at Diopter Technologies, INC. · NIH-10931847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing new daily disposable contact lenses that deliver a medicine for cystinosis directly to your eyes, so you won’t have to use eye drops as often, making it easier and more comfortable to manage your symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Diopter Technologies, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $332,179 |
| NIH project number | 1R43EY036347-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents diagnosed with cystinosis who experience ocular symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have cystinosis or those who are not experiencing ocular symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing daily disposable contact lenses that can deliver cysteamine, a medication used to treat cystinosis, directly to the eye. Currently, patients must use eye drops eight times a day, which can be burdensome and lead to poor adherence. The new lens design aims to provide a sustained release of the medication, reducing the frequency of application and minimizing side effects associated with eye drops. By using these lenses, patients may experience improved comfort and better management of their ocular symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for cystinosis patients by simplifying their treatment regimen.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using contact lenses for drug delivery is not entirely novel, the specific application for cystinosis treatment represents a new direction that has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Diopter Technologies, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Chris — Diopter Technologies, INC.
- Study coordinator: Adams, Chris
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.