Restoring the cornea’s support layer to reduce scarring
Official title: Regulation of tissue repair and scar formation by the stromal niche
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11418376 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are trying to restore the cornea’s supporting tissue to help people with corneal scarring from injury, infection, or congenital conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,610 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034114-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418376 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with corneal scarring from infection, trauma, or congenital conditions, or patients willing to donate corneal tissue for research at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
People without corneal disease or whose vision loss is due to retinal or optic nerve problems are unlikely to benefit from this cornea-focused work.
What this research studies
This project looks at the corneal stromal niche — the mechanical and chemical environment that helps the cornea heal without scarring. The team will study how collagen V is re-expressed during healing and how that affects whether corneal cells become normal repair cells or scar-forming myofibroblasts. They will also examine how collagen V influences activation of TGF-β, a key signal that drives excess scar tissue. Work will use lab and animal models to guide ideas for future treatments that could be tried in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medical or surgical approaches that prevent or reduce corneal scarring and lower the need for corneal transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab and animal studies targeting TGF-β signaling have reduced corneal scarring, but restoring the stromal niche and focusing on collagen V is a newer approach with more limited testing to date.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Espana, Edgar Mauricio — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Espana, Edgar Mauricio
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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.