Toxicity of Benzalkonium Chloride on the Front of the Eye
Official title: Toxicity of Benzalkonium Chloride to the Corneal Epithelium
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11454979 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how long-term exposure to a common eye preservative, benzalkonium chloride (BAK), can harm the surface of the eye and potentially lead to eye surface disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,300 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY038411-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454979 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients or volunteers with chronic exposure to ophthalmic products containing BAK or related corneal surface concerns, who could contribute samples or participate in follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure to BAK or without corneal surface issues may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you have concerns about chronic eye drops or ointments containing BAK, this project asks how tiny, repeated exposures damage the corneal surface. Researchers will use cellular and molecular methods, computer simulations, and prior study results to model injury patterns and identify why some exposures cause more harm than others. They aim to link bursts of BAK with short-term damage and longer-term cellular energy problems that worsen inflammation. The work could point to safer preservative strategies or new ways to protect the eye surface in patients who rely on frequent eye medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to safer eye preservative formulations and better protection for people who use eye drops long-term.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that BAK can cause ocular surface damage, with more recent data suggesting complex dose- and time-dependent effects; this study builds on those findings with a deeper mechanistic model.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srinivas, Sangly P — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Srinivas, Sangly P
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.