Nutrition and metabolism approach to prevent eye damage in premature babies
Metabolic basis of retinopathy of prematurity and potential treatment with anaplerotic substrates
This project explores whether giving specific nutrients that support liver and retinal energy metabolism can help prevent or reduce eye damage in premature newborns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302698 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent of a premature baby, this work looks at how oxygen treatment and nutrition change liver and eye metabolism and lead to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The researchers study how high oxygen shifts metabolism in retinal support cells (Müller cells), reducing glutamine needed for healthy blood-vessel growth, and they link this to liver-produced fats like DHA and arachidonic acid. They plan to test whether giving 'anaplerotic' substrates—nutrients that refill the cell's energy cycle, including certain medium-chain fats and amino-acid related substrates—can restore normal metabolism and protect the developing retina. The team uses lab models that mimic premature infant oxygen exposure and connects findings to human milk and nutrition to guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Premature infants at risk for ROP, especially very low birth weight babies or those receiving supplemental oxygen, would be the likely candidates for future treatments informed by this work.
Not a fit: Babies with advanced retinal disease or cases of ROP driven mainly by non-metabolic causes may not benefit from metabolic supplements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new nutrition-based therapies or supplements to lower the risk or severity of ROP in premature infants.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has tested long-chain fatty acids like DHA in animal models and some clinical trials with mixed results, while using anaplerotic substrates or medium-chain fats to refill retinal energy pathways is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Charandeep — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Singh, Charandeep
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.