Off-the-shelf immune-compatible stem cells for eye diseases
Official title: Alloimmune-compatible stem cells for ocular diseases
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11251986 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Develops ready-made stem cells designed to avoid immune rejection to help people who need cell-based repair for eye conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Schepens Eye Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036033-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251986 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, corneal injuries, or other eye conditions that might benefit from cell replacement and who would be eligible for future clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with eye problems not treatable by cell replacement (such as simple refractive errors), those with active ocular infection, or those medically ineligible for transplantation may not benefit.
What this research studies
As a patient, this work means scientists are engineering induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) so they can be used in many people without being rejected by the immune system. They plan to make iPSCs express HLA-I molecules that are either peptide-free or loaded with low-affinity peptides to prevent CD8+ T cell attacks while still protecting against natural killer (NK) cell killing. The team will test these engineered cells in the lab and in preclinical models to see whether the cells survive, avoid immune attack, and function like normal eye cells. If preclinical results are promising, the approach could move toward clinical testing for people with retinal or corneal damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide ready-made immune-compatible cells to repair damaged retinal or corneal tissue, shortening wait times and cutting the cost of personalized cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab work using HLA deletion or non-classical HLA expression has shown promise in reducing rejection, but the peptide-free/low-affinity HLA strategy is a newer approach with more limited in vivo testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chauhan, Sunil K — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chauhan, Sunil K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Open, shareable OCT imaging data to speed eye disease research
A large NIH grant aims to create an open, fast way to export and share 3-D eye scans (OCT) from multiple clinics to help researchers develop better AI tools for diagnosing and tracking eye diseases.
-
How immune responses cause long-term eye damage after nitrogen mustard exposure
Researchers are looking at how immune cells lead to lasting cornea injury after sudden nitrogen mustard exposure to help people with mustard gas–related eye damage.
-
smartphones help kids see better in Africa
A smartphone-based tool helps children in Africa measure vision errors so they can get eyeglasses more easily.
-
Population-wide deep learning glaucoma screening Models
Aims to create AI eye-screening tools that work well for diverse populations so people can get easy glaucoma checks from primary care or pharmacies.
-
Immune factors driving long-term eye damage from nitrogen mustard exposure
A research project explores how immune responses contribute to chronic eye damage after nitrogen mustard exposure, aiming to improve care for people at risk.
-
Corneal Healing: How Epithelium and Stroma Talk to Prevent Scarring
A study exploring how the surface layer of the cornea and the underlying tissue communicate to control healing and scarring after an injury.
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.