Understanding how diabetes affects corneal transplant success
Official title: Diabetes Endothelial Keratoplasty Study(DEKS): Impact of Diabetes on Corneal Transplant Success and Cell Loss
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11080385 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project wants to find out if corneas from donors with diabetes work as well for transplants as those from non-diabetic donors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $281,320 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1EY030039-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11080385 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who are scheduled to receive a Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) corneal transplant would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing corneal transplantation or those receiving other types of keratoplasty may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with diabetes are now organ donors, and we need to know if their corneas are suitable for transplantation. This project will compare transplant outcomes using corneas from diabetic and non-diabetic donors to see if diabetes affects how well the transplant works and how long it lasts. We will follow patients who receive these transplants to gather clear information. The goal is to provide clear guidance for eye banks and surgeons, ensuring the best possible care for patients needing corneal transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help ensure the best possible outcomes for patients receiving corneal transplants and provide clear guidelines for using donor corneas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the impact of diabetic donors on corneal transplant success, making this a crucial and definitive investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lass, Jonathan H — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Lass, Jonathan H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Diabetes and Donor Tissue in Corneal Transplants
This grant studies whether corneas from donors with diabetes affect the success of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and what factors predict better or worse outcomes.
-
Diabetes impact on corneal donor tissue for endothelial keratoplasty
This project follows corneal transplants using donor tissue from people with diabetes to see how diabetes affects graft success and endothelial cell loss after surgery.
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Diabetes and Donor Tissue in Corneal Transplants
This project looks at whether corneas from donors with diabetes affect transplant success and endothelial cell loss in a common corneal procedure.
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HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
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Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision
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Integrated Heart Health: A HEARTS-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala
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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.