Why dry eye gets worse in autoimmune disease
Official title: Defining mechanisms driving dry eye disease progression
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11138650 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are mapping the different cell types in the cornea and how they change in people with autoimmune-related dry eye to help find ways to protect the eye and relieve symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $410,001 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033040-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11138650 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with aqueous-deficient dry eye, especially those with autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis and noticeable corneal symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
People whose dry eye is mainly evaporative (for example from meibomian gland dysfunction), medication side effects, or other non-autoimmune causes may not benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
This project maps the variety of cells that make up the cornea and follows how those cells change during aqueous-deficient dry eye caused by autoimmune diseases like Sjögren's, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. Investigators will use corneal samples from patients and complementary mouse models to chart cell types, lineage paths, and how cells respond to chronic inflammation. By comparing healthy and diseased tissue, they aim to pinpoint which cells and pathways drive nerve loss, barrier breakdown, and inflammation. The goal is to reveal cellular processes that could be targeted to prevent or reverse corneal damage and its symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new cell-level targets that lead to treatments protecting the cornea, reducing pain, and preserving vision in autoimmune dry eye.
How similar studies have gone: Prior human and mouse studies have documented corneal inflammation, nerve loss, and barrier defects in dry eye, but comprehensive single-cell mapping of lineage changes in autoimmune dry eye is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knox, Sarah Monica — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Knox, Sarah Monica
Related research
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Immune causes of chronic dry eye
This work looks at how certain immune cells make dry eye persist in adults and aims to point toward better, longer-lasting treatments.
-
A new type of plug to help relieve dry eye symptoms
This study is working on a new type of eye plug that can help make life easier for people with dry eyes by using special materials that adjust to their needs, aiming to provide more comfort and better results than current treatments.
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.