What shapes the microbes on the eyelid margin
Determinants of the periocular microbiome
Adult twins will provide eyelid swabs, eye exams, and health and DNA information so scientists can learn what controls the microbes living on the eyelid edge.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145954 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would complete a health questionnaire, have a brief eye exam, and allow a small swab of your eyelid margin to be taken. DNA and RNA from those swabs will be sequenced with rigorous controls to identify bacteria, viruses, and bacteriophages. Some people will have both eyes sampled and some will be sampled over time to check stability. By comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins using existing genomic data, the team will estimate how much genetics versus environment shapes the eyelid microbiome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adult (21+) twins from the TwinsUK registry who are willing to complete questionnaires, undergo an eye exam, and provide eyelid swab samples.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for an active eye infection or expecting direct clinical care from participation should not expect personal medical benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal microbes or genetic links tied to eyelid conditions like blepharitis and guide future prevention, diagnostics, or targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have profiled eyelid microbes and found associations with conditions such as blepharitis, but applying deep metagenomic sequencing in a large twin cohort is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Gelder, Russell N. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Van Gelder, Russell N.
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.