Targeting STING to treat diabetic eye disease
Official title: Bifunctional Inhibitors of STING as Chemical Probes for Diabetic Retinopathy
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11179257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
New medicines that block STING aim to reduce eye inflammation and prevent vision loss in people with diabetic retinopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $189,509 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EY035454-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diabetic retinopathy—especially those whose vision does not improve with anti‑VEGF injections—are the most likely candidates for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetic eye disease or whose vision loss is due to unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have diabetic retinopathy, this project is developing new STING-blocking compounds that could become treatments. Researchers will test these compounds in cells and animal models to see if they stop DNA-driven inflammation, reduce immune cell buildup in the retina, and prevent blood-retinal barrier leakage. The team has shown in earlier work that blocking STING can lower retinal inflammation and leakage in models of eye disease. If the compounds look safe and effective, they could move toward human safety studies and future clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that lower retinal inflammation, reduce leakage, and help preserve vision for people with diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies show that blocking STING can reduce retinal inflammation and leakage in animal models, but using bifunctional STING inhibitors as potential therapies is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duerfeldt, Adam Scott — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Duerfeldt, Adam Scott
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrative multi-omics to understand diabetic retinopathy
A doctor-scientist team will study blood markers and genetic signals to see why diabetic retinopathy happens and how it affects Hispanic/Latino people.
-
Smartphone retinal imaging for diabetic eye disease in Egypt
This project uses a low-cost smartphone camera and AI to find signs of diabetic eye damage in adults with diabetes in Egypt.
-
Retinal Cell Loss in Diabetic Retinopathy
This project looks at how mitochondrial problems and a specific kind of cell death called ferroptosis may cause retinal cells to die in people with diabetes-related eye disease.
-
Redox-triggered REDD1 blockers for diabetic retinopathy
A research project tests new ways to stop a stress protein (REDD1) from causing vision problems in people with diabetic retinopathy.
-
Ultrafast eye imaging to detect and track diabetic retinopathy
A doctor-science team is developing ultra-fast eye scans to better see tiny blood vessels in people with diabetic retinopathy, helping catch changes early and guide treatment.
-
Practical device to automatically track abnormal retinal blood vessel growth in diabetic eye disease
A new, easier-to-use imaging device aims to automatically detect and monitor abnormal retinal blood vessel growth in people with diabetic retinopathy.
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.