Protecting the retina in diabetic eye disease
Role of Intrinsic Neuroprotective Signaling in Diabetic Retina
The team will explore whether boosting a natural protective protein called p58IPK can keep retinal nerve cells healthier in people with diabetic retinopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303409 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory and animal experiments to find out how a protein called p58IPK helps retinal neurons resist diabetes-related damage. Researchers use genetically engineered, cell-specific p58IPK knockout mice and biochemical assays to track cell stress, death pathways, and neuronal function in diabetic conditions. They will also use gene-delivery tools such as adeno-associated viruses to test whether restoring or enhancing p58IPK protects retinal cells. Although the work is preclinical, the findings are meant to guide future therapies that could be translated into treatments for people who have diabetic retinopathy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes who have early or progressive diabetic retinopathy would be the kinds of patients who could benefit or be invited to future trials based on this research.
Not a fit: Patients without diabetic retinopathy, those with vision loss from other eye diseases, or those with very advanced and irreversible retinal damage may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that prevent vision loss by protecting retinal nerve cells in people with diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have performed: Gene-delivery and neuroprotection strategies have shown promise in animal models of retinal disease, but targeting p58IPK is a novel, largely preclinical approach not yet tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Sarah X — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Sarah X
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.