Using bile-acid receptors to protect premature babies' vision
Official title: Bile acid receptor signaling in retinopathy of prematurity
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11235852 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing whether drugs that turn on the bile-acid receptor FXR can protect the retinas of premature infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $385,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034568-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235852 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Premature infants at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, particularly those who received supplemental oxygen during neonatal care, would be the intended patient group for eventual therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Infants with fully advanced retinal detachment or older children and adults without ROP are unlikely to benefit from this preventive approach.
What this research studies
This work looks at whether activating a bile-acid receptor called FXR can protect the eyes of premature babies who are exposed to extra oxygen. Scientists use a lab model that mimics the premature retina's exposure to oxygen to study how FXR affects abnormal blood-vessel growth and cell survival. They examine retinal support cells (astrocytes) and endothelial cells to track signaling changes and test FXR-stimulating drugs for protective effects. The aim is to identify ways to prevent harmful neovascular growth and reduce reliance on invasive treatments like laser ablation or repeated anti-VEGF injections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could prevent or reduce the abnormal blood-vessel growth that leads to vision loss in retinopathy of prematurity, potentially protecting sight without destructive eye procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical animal studies, including the investigators' own oxygen-induced retinopathy models, have shown protective effects of FXR agonists, but clinical testing in human infants has not yet occurred.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.