Using bile-acid receptors to protect premature babies' vision
Bile acid receptor signaling in retinopathy of prematurity
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 ID | NIH-11235852 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: Infants with fully advanced retinal detachment or older children and adults without ROP are unlikely to benefit from this preventive approach.
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 performed: 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
Nashville, United States
- Meharry Medical College — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Thounaojam, Menaka Chanu
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.