Understanding special cells that help heal the eye's surface
The role of BCAM-positive cells in central cornea, limbus and conjunctiva
This research looks at specific cells in the eye's surface to understand how they help keep your vision clear and heal injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11329702 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your cornea, the clear front part of your eye, needs to stay healthy for good vision, but injuries or conditions like dry eye and diabetes can lead to scarring and vision problems. Many people suffer from persistent or recurring corneal defects, causing pain and blurry vision, and we urgently need new ways to help them heal. This project focuses on special cells, called BCAM-positive cells, found in different parts of your eye's surface, including the limbus where stem cells reside. We want to understand exactly how these cells move and work to maintain a healthy cornea and repair it after damage. Learning more about these cells could lead to new treatments for various eye surface conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients experiencing corneal scarring, dry eye, diabetic keratopathy, neurotrophic diseases, or persistent/recurrent corneal epithelial defects may eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision problems are unrelated to corneal surface health or healing may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for corneal injuries and diseases that cause vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have shown the importance of basal epithelial cell migration in corneal healing, this project explores the specific role of BCAM-positive cells, which is a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sasamoto, Yuzuru — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Sasamoto, Yuzuru
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 below.