Thursday, July 3, 2025 7/3/2025

Defining the Immune Cell Roles in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in the Context of Ocular Surface Immune Diseases

Award Number: R01EY021798
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2012
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Defining the Immune Cell Roles in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in the Context of Ocular Surface Immune Diseases - ABSTRACT Inflammation is a vastly underappreciated player in meibomian gland dysfunction – a common pathological condition of eyelid sebaceous glands responsible for producing tear film lipids. Pathologic blockage of the gland orifice and central duct, referred to as “obstructive” meibomian gland dysfunction, is regularly accompanied by ocular surface inflammation in patients. Moreover, this type of obstruction is ubiquitous, and even more aggressive, in patients with ocular surface immune disease. The latter is defined here as ocular surface pathology associated with systemic immune disorders, such as atopy (allergy), Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis, Sjogren’s syndrome, graft versus host disease, cicatricial pemphigoid, and others. Still, the exact immune mechanisms involved in meibomian gland dysfunction remain elusive. As no pharmacological agents are indicated for meibomian gland dysfunction, there is a critical need for uncovering the pertinent immune responses of this pathobiology in patients with ocular surface immune disease. In the last funding cycle, we showed a direct role for neutrophils in meibomian gland dysfunction in our model of chronic-like allergic eye disease. Based on this work and the current literature, our central hypothesis is that neutrophils play a role in driving meibomian gland dysfunction across different forms of ocular surface immune diseases. In the current proposal, we will: i) elucidate the pathogenic neutrophil mechanisms that drive meibomian gland dysfunction in our established model of chronic-like allergic eye disease; ii) decipher the role of neutrophils in meibomian gland dysfunction in a novel and spontaneous genetic mouse model of ocular surface immune disease; and iii) map the tear immune cell landscape of meibomian gland dysfunction in patients with different ocular surface immune disease entities. In addition to mouse models, we will leverage our unpublished single cell RNA-seq dataset of immune cells from blood, conjunctiva, and tears from our allergic eye disease mouse model, paired with computational, genetic, and pharmacologic tools to pinpoint the pathogenic neutrophil mechanisms. For human samples, we established a 36-color flow cytometry panel for deep immune profiling of patient tears and have incorporated clinical expertise for the annotation of each individual with detailed clinical metadata. The rationale for this project is that identifying the critical immune cell subsets and associated pathogenic cellular programs that drive meibomian gland dysfunction will offer a strong scientific framework by which to delineate the role of inflammation in human meibomian gland dysfunction, as well as identify novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic immune markers to support efforts in the clinical space. Completion of these studies is therefore expected to have a significant impact by expanding the breadth and depth of knowledge regarding the role of inflammation, specifically neutrophils, in meibomian gland dysfunction, ultimately providing new opportunities to treat and diagnose this pervasive condition.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $398,756 )
2024	2024	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	13	6/28/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$398,756
														Subtotal = $398,756

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $398,756 )
2023	2023	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	002	12	6/26/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$398,756
2023	2022	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	11	12/28/2022	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$3,084
2023	2020	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	10	12/28/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$3,084
														Subtotal = $398,756

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $398,756 )
2022	2022	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	11	9/20/2022	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$398,756
														Subtotal = $398,756

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $397,500 )
2020	2020	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	10	4/29/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,500
														Subtotal = $397,500

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $397,500 )
2019	2019	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	9	4/22/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,500
														Subtotal = $397,500

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $397,500 )
2018	2018	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	002	8	4/12/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,500
2018	2017	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	7	2/26/2018	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$157,376
2018	2016	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	6	2/26/2018	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	-$157,376
														Subtotal = $397,500

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $397,500 )
2017	2017	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	7	8/29/2017	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,500
2017	2016	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	6	8/24/2017	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $397,500

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $451,534 )
2016	2016	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	6	1/29/2016	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$451,534
														Subtotal = $451,534

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $426,274 )
2015	2015	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	5	1/21/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$346,185
2015	2015	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	5	4/2/2015	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$80,089
														Subtotal = $426,274

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $346,185 )
2014	2014	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	4	4/10/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$346,185
														Subtotal = $346,185

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $372,875 )
2013	2013	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	000	3	1/10/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,250
2013	2013	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	3	6/3/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$19,625
														Subtotal = $372,875

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $485,000 )
2012	2012	SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE	20 STANIFORD STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	002	1	7/2/2012	NEW	-$388,000
2012	2012	DUKE UNIVERSITY	BOX 104004	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Vision Research	001	2	7/2/2012	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$388,000
2012	2012	SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE	20 STANIFORD STREET	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	1	1/9/2012	NEW	$485,000
														Subtotal = $485,000

Grand Total All Awards = $4,868,136

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Defining the Immune Cell Roles in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in the Context of Ocular Surface Immune Diseases

Award Number: R01EY021798

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2012

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer