Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Utility of PIP as a Novel Keratoconus Biomarker

Award Number: R01EY030028
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Utility of PIP as a Novel Keratoconus Biomarker - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Keratoconus (KC) is the most common corneal dystrophy, with adverse corneal changes that can dramatically affect vision. During KC progression, the cornea can show several pathologies, including fragmentation of Bowman’s layer, thinning of stroma and overlying epithelium, folds or breaks in Descemet’s membrane, and variable amounts of diffuse corneal scarring. Clinically, limited treatment options for KC patients include corneal transplantation and collagen cross-linking. Unfortunately, both corneal transplantation and collagen cross-linking have their own limitations. To date, the etiology and pathogenesis of KC remains unclear. As such, there is an urgent need to identify viable biomarker(s) that can help with the early diagnosis and treatment of KC. In 2014, we were the first to report the role and significant modulation of prolactin-induced protein (PIP) in vitro (3D cultures with human KC cells) and in vivo (human tear samples), and question its role during KC development and progression. Our preliminary data shows that PIP is significantly downregulated in KC patients when compared to Healthy individuals. Interestingly, downregulation of PIP was seen in three different human biological fluids: saliva, tears, and blood (serum). Furthermore, our preliminary data shows that PIP is not modulated in other relevant diseases, such as Uveitis and Type II Diabetes, suggesting potential specificity to KC. Even more strikingly, new data shows that PIP expression levels returned to normal on KC patients that had received corneal transplants. We posit that PIP can serve as a biomarker for KC onset and progression drive the development of future non-invasive treatment modalities. The current proposal is focused solely on PIP, with three main goals: 1) Cement PIP as a KC biomarker, 2) Determine the power and specificity of PIP, and 3) Determine PIP expression following known KC treatments. To ensure that we achieve our goals, we have assembled a large cohort of experts in the field from multiple clinical and research centers, as well as from the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF). Successful completion of the studies proposed will be a breakthrough in KC research and will alter current standards of care for patients with KC. Relevance to Public Health – KC is a major clinical problem resulting in visual impairment worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop novel diagnostic tools for the detection and treatment of KC in the early stages. Ultimately, the primary goal is to enable people with KC to live a normal life with little or no visual disability. The proposed work will move the field forward, is translational, clinically relevant, and in line with NEI’s program goals: “Apply the knowledge acquired from discoveries in the basic science of the cornea and other tissues of the ocular surface to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of ocular injury and disease”.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$61,879 )
2026	2023	THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	000	5	1/6/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$61,879
														Subtotal = -$61,879

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $482,045 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	001	5	7/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$370,000
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	002	5	7/14/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$48,025
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	000	4	1/11/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$64,020
														Subtotal = $482,045

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $342,905 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	001	4	6/27/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$48,025
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	000	4	6/24/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$294,880
														Subtotal = $342,905

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $294,181 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	002	3	6/28/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$294,181
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	004	2	9/20/2021	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	001	2	1/21/2021	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$257,492
2021	2019	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	865 RESEARCH PKWY STE 530	OKLAHOMA CITY	OK	73104	OKLAHOMA	USA	Vision Research	003	1	9/20/2021	NEW	$0
2021	2019	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	865 RESEARCH PKWY STE 530	OKLAHOMA CITY	OK	73104	OKLAHOMA	USA	Vision Research	000	1	1/21/2021	NEW	-$257,492
														Subtotal = $294,181

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $301,750 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH	3500 CAMP BOWIE BLVD	FORT WORTH	TX	76107	TARRANT	USA	Vision Research	001	2	8/21/2020	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$301,750
2020	2019	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	865 RESEARCH PKWY STE 530	OKLAHOMA CITY	OK	73104	OKLAHOMA	USA	Vision Research	000	1	8/20/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $301,750

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $300,625 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA	865 RESEARCH PKWY STE 530	OKLAHOMA CITY	OK	73104	OKLAHOMA	USA	Vision Research	000	1	9/13/2019	NEW	$300,625
														Subtotal = $300,625

Grand Total All Awards = $1,659,627

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Utility of PIP as a Novel Keratoconus Biomarker

Award Number: R01EY030028

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer