Targeting neutrophil traps and signals to protect the eye in diabetic retinopathy
Official title: Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Chemokines in Blood-Retinal Barrier Alteration in Diabetic Retinopathy
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11228290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how immune cells and their signals contribute to vision problems in adults with diabetes, with the goal of improving treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $381,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY036980-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with diabetes who may benefit from future therapies targeting inflammation and vascular leakage in the retina.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose DR is driven by mechanisms unrelated to NETs or CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project investigates how neutrophil extracellular traps and the CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling pathway affect the blood-retinal barrier in diabetic retinopathy, using mouse models including diabetes and specific gene knockouts. Researchers will test how these immune mechanisms influence retinal vascular leakage and vision-related outcomes. The study uses established diabetic mouse models and genetically modified animals to pinpoint how NETs and CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling contribute to BRB breakdown. Findings could point to new therapeutic targets beyond current anti-VEGF treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to reduce retinal leakage and preserve vision for people with diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has connected inflammatory pathways to BRB dysfunction, with early data suggesting NETs and CXCL1/CXCR2 play a role; this study builds on those findings in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Monickaraj, Finny — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Monickaraj, Finny
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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.