Award
National Eye Institute 5R01EY035319-03
Photoreceptor induction in wounded corneas
Recipient
University of Washington
Award Amount
$441,250.00
Ceiling
$441,250.00
Awarded
June 02, 2026
Identifier
5R01EY035319-03
Research project funded by the National Eye Institute to study the role of photoreceptors in corneal wound healing, aiming to develop light-based therapies to enhance healing and reduce scarring.
Description
The project aims to characterize the role of light and opsin photoreceptors, particularly Opn5, in accelerating corneal wound healing. The study involves in vivo and ex vivo experiments, including testing light regimens, signaling mechanisms, and diffusible factors influencing Opn5 expression. The research extends findings from mouse models to human and non-human primate corneal cells, with the goal of developing light-based therapies to improve wound closure and reduce scarring.