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NEI Research News

Thanks to the work of NEI scientists and grantees, we’re constantly learning new information about the causes and treatment of vision disorders. Get the latest updates about their work — along with other news about NEI.

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Pioneering study indicates a potential treatment for corneal endothelial disease, reducing the need for corneal transplants

Findings from a pioneering study reveal that administration of the neuropeptide α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH) promotes corneal healing and restores normal eye function.

NEI posts executive summary of workshop on extracellular vesicles

The September 14 workshop brought together multidisciplinary experts in extracellular vesicles – cell-secreted nanoparticles that mediate cell-cell communication.

Cell therapy that repairs cornea damage with patient’s own stem cells achieves positive Phase I trial results

Cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC) procedure shown to be safe and feasible with early positive results of restored cornea surfaces or vision gains in four patients with severe chemical burns.
Close up of woman's face.

Study identifies how diabetes slows healing in the eye

Cedars-Sinai researchers uncover disease-related changes to the cornea and propose potential therapeutic approaches to correct diabetic wound healing.

Lab-grown ‘mini-corneas’ mimic developing human corneas

Three-dimensional, lab-grown “mini-corneas” resemble the developing human cornea, making them a powerful new tool for the study of corneal diseases, a study finds.
Nanoparticle. Courtesy of Biorender.

Tiny nanoparticle could have big impact on patients receiving corneal transplants

Using nanoparticles to encapsulate eye medication decreased graft rejection while requiring fewer and smaller doses.

HSC researcher discovered a potential cause for keratoconus

Researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center are the first to characterize extracellular vesicles in the tears of patients with keratoconus.
Dongkyun "DK" Kang

UArizona engineer leads $1M project to fight vision loss

Biomedical engineering and optical sciences professor DK Kang is developing a way to diagnose and treat corneal ulcers that's eight times cheaper and 20 times faster than today's gold standard.

University of Oregon researchers develop gene therapy for eye disease

Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that could eventually provide an alternative treatment for Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy, a genetic eye disease affecting roughly one in 2,000 people globally.
3D printed model of Sars-CoV-2

COVID-19 Found in The Cornea: Are Transplants a Transmission Risk?

A multi-institutional study finds that COVID-19 can be found in post-mortem corneal tissue, highlighting the importance of the donor screening process.