Award
National Eye Institute 5R01EY030766-06
Anti-ceramide immunotherapy for diabetic retinopathy
Recipient
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Award Amount
$401,386.00
Ceiling
$401,386.00
Awarded
May 13, 2026
Identifier
5R01EY030766-06
This award funds research on anti-ceramide immunotherapy to prevent or reverse diabetic retinopathy by targeting lipid signaling pathways and immune cell mobilization, aiming to develop predictive biomarkers and therapeutic antibodies.
Description
The project aims to test the therapeutic potential of inhibiting ceramide signaling using anti-ceramide immunotherapy to prevent or reverse diabetic retinopathy. It focuses on the role of acid sphingomyelinase in diabetic retinas, membrane lipid composition, and mobilization of myeloid angiogenic cells from bone marrow to retina. The project hypothesizes that quantifying CRP formation in peripheral blood cells can predict diabetic retinopathy severity and that systemic administration of anti-ceramide antibodies will restore normal hematopoiesis and vascular repair.