Understanding and treating eye problems in premature infants caused by oxygen exposure
Official title: Metabolic basis of retinopathy of prematurity and potential treatment with anaplerotic substrates
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11050747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how too much oxygen can affect the eyes of premature babies and hopes to find out if certain nutrients in breast milk can help improve their eye health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $462,072 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY035701-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are premature infants, particularly those born with low birth weight who are at higher risk for developing ROP.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature or do not exhibit symptoms of retinopathy of prematurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to high levels of oxygen affects the development of the retina in premature infants, leading to a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The study focuses on the metabolic processes in the liver that contribute to ROP and explores the potential of using specific nutrients to improve retinal health. By examining the role of different fatty acids in breast milk and their impact on infant metabolism, the research aims to identify new treatment strategies that could enhance retinal development in these vulnerable infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for preventing vision loss in premature infants affected by retinopathy of prematurity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the metabolic factors contributing to ROP, indicating that this approach may lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Charandeep — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Singh, Charandeep
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Butyrate-based approach to prevent vision loss in premature babies with retinopathy
A study is exploring whether increasing butyrate levels can prevent vision-damaging retinopathy in premature infants by addressing gut bacteria and metabolic pathways.
-
TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
-
Long-term endotypes of prematurity-related lung disease in former preemies
A long-term study looking at why some babies born very early develop lasting breathing problems and how their genes might explain these different paths.
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Deep learning tool to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity in newborns
A new AI-based diagnostic tool uses eye images from premature babies to help clinicians identify treatment-needed retinopathy of prematurity.
-
Cortical dystonia in kids born early
Researchers are studying why premature birth leads to dystonia in cerebral palsy and looking for new ways to help children and adults who have this condition.
-
AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
Using faster handheld wide-field eye scans plus AI to find early signs of retinopathy of prematurity in premature babies and help guide treatment.
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.