Understanding a protein called EMP2 in retinopathy of prematurity
Official title: Targeting epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) in retinopathy of prematurity
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11115608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how a specific protein called EMP2 contributes to abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes of premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $391,647 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY032561-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms in retinopathy of prematurity, which primarily affects extremely low birth weight premature infants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have retinopathy of prematurity or are not premature infants would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of childhood blindness, affecting many premature babies. When premature infants are exposed to too much oxygen due to underdeveloped lungs, it can cause blood vessels in their eyes to shrink, leading to a lack of oxygen. This oxygen shortage then triggers the growth of abnormal, leaky blood vessels. We are looking into how a protein called EMP2 might be involved in this process, as it appears to regulate other factors that promote abnormal vessel growth. Our goal is to understand if targeting EMP2 could help prevent or treat the damaging eye changes seen in ROP.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat the abnormal blood vessel growth that causes blindness in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in mouse models suggest that reducing EMP2 can lessen abnormal blood vessel growth, indicating a promising new direction for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chu, Alison — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Chu, Alison
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AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
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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.