Oxidative stress and Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in eye lens aging
Official title: Oxidative stress and Nlrp3 inflammasome activation in eye lens pathobiology during aging
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11448772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how aging and oxidative stress drive inflammation in the eye lens, which could help prevent age-related eye diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY037700-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older who are at risk for age-related eye conditions or who have early lens aging changes may benefit from improved understanding and future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not directly enroll patients; findings may inform future patient-directed interventions rather than immediate treatment.
What this research studies
As people age, oxidative stress may trigger inflammatory pathways in the eye lens, contributing to vision problems. The project studies how Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and changes in antioxidant defenses relate to lens aging using eye lens cells as a model. It explores molecular signals like ROS, NF-κB, Klf9, and Txnip that could lead to cell damage and eye disease. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could be targeted to protect vision in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new strategies to prevent or slow age-related eye diseases by modulating oxidative stress and inflammasome activity.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in aging and inflammasome biology have shown links between oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways relevant to eye health; translation to humans remains ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chhunchha, Bhavana — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chhunchha, Bhavana
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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.