Tear microRNA patterns in women and men with dry eye
Official title: Sex-specific Influences on tear microRNAs in dry eye disease
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11311871 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look at tiny RNA molecules in tear fluid from people with dry eye to find patterns linked to sex and race.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $509,679 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036114-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311871 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with dry eye disease of any severity, including both women and men and people from diverse racial backgrounds who can give tear samples and attend eye exams.
✕Less likely to help
People without dry eye, children, or those unable to provide tear samples or attend clinic visits are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You'll be asked to provide a small, non-invasive tear sample and undergo routine eye exams. The team plans to collect samples from about 800 people and measure tiny RNA molecules (miRNAs) and proteins in the tears. They'll compare patterns between women and men and among racial groups, and link those patterns to clinical signs and disease severity. By combining the molecular data with clinical information, they hope to identify tear-based markers that could guide diagnosis and personalized treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors diagnose dry eye more accurately and tailor treatments to an individual's tear profile.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller studies have shown promise for tear proteins and circulating miRNAs as markers, but this large, sex- and race-focused multi-omics approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Ashok — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Ashok
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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.