Newb nature of adenovirus eye infections and how they cause damage
Official title: Novel Mechanisms in Adenoviral Ocular Pathogenesis
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11446697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Adenovirus-related conjunctivitis and a severe form called EKC are studied to understand how the virus causes eye injury and how to stop it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2011 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,509,845 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY021558-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with adenovirus eye infections, especially those at risk of EKC, may eventually benefit from improved therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients with other causes of conjunctivitis or unrelated eye conditions may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on how human adenoviruses lead to eye irritation, inflammation, and long-term vision problems, especially EKC. Researchers will study corneal and conjunctival cells to see how viral proteins interact with cell proteins and trigger damaging inflammation. The project uses cell-based experiments to explore HMGB1’s role and how adenoviral protein VII may influence those processes. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce pain, scarring, and vision loss after infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new treatments that lessen eye inflammation and long-term damage from adenovirus eye infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked HMGB1 to corneal inflammation in adenovirus infection, suggesting this approach could yield actionable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rajaiya, Jaya — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Rajaiya, Jaya
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.