Using surfactant protein A to prevent eye disease in premature babies
Targeting Surfactant Protein A to Prevent Retinopathy of Prematurity
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · NIH-11314571
Researchers are exploring whether increasing surfactant protein A can protect premature babies' eyes from retinopathy of prematurity.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (OKLAHOMA CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11314571 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research focuses on surfactant protein A (SP‑A), a protein that is often low in preterm infants and is present in retinal support cells. The team will use laboratory experiments and rodent models to study how SP‑A influences normal retinal blood‑vessel growth and later harmful neovascularization. They will examine links between SP‑A, VEGF, and cytoskeleton proteins to identify ways to encourage healthy vessel development while preventing abnormal vessel growth. The aim is to guide safer, targeted treatments for infants at risk of ROP.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants born very prematurely (especially those with very low birth weight and early gestational age) who are at risk for or developing retinopathy of prematurity would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Full‑term infants, children with other causes of vision loss, or adults would not be expected to benefit from an ROP‑focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer, targeted treatments that prevent blindness in preterm infants without the systemic risks of current anti‑VEGF drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Existing anti‑VEGF treatments can reduce ROP severity but raise systemic safety concerns, and targeting SP‑A is a novel approach with promising preclinical findings but no proven human results yet.
Where this research is happening
OKLAHOMA CITY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR — OKLAHOMA CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BHATTI, FAIZAH NAHEED — UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- Study coordinator: BHATTI, FAIZAH NAHEED
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.