ST. LOUIS, MO – October 4, 2024 – Andrew JW Huang, MD, MPH, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Qin Liu, PhD, Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have been awarded a four-year R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Eye Institute (NEI) to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying corneal injuries caused by ammonia.
The research project, titled “Neural Mechanism Underlying Corneal Injuries by Ammonia”, addresses a critical gap in understanding the effects of ammonia on corneal sensory fibers. Ammonia is one of the most potent chemical agents responsible for severe ocular pain after chemical burns, but its impact on corneal nerves has not been thoroughly explored.
Dr. Huang and Dr. Liu’s recent findings indicate that ammonia hyperactivates corneal sensory fibers, a response that may lead to calcium cytotoxicity, nerve degeneration, and devastating ocular surface damage. Their research proposes that this excessive activation of sensory fibers may be the previously unrecognized neural mechanism behind ammonia-induced ocular pain and injuries.
“Our goal is to uncover the neural pathways affected by ammonia exposure and to develop novel therapeutic strategies that address both the pain and the corneal injuries associated with these chemical burns,” said Dr. Huang.
The project also aims to explore a dual therapeutic approach targeting both the relief of ocular pain and the prevention of corneal injury following ammonia exposure.
This groundbreaking research could lead to new treatments for individuals suffering from the devastating effects of ammonia on the eyes, offering hope for better clinical outcomes and enhanced quality of life for those affected.
For more information about Dr. Huang’s research, NIH, NEI, or WashU Medicine, please visit:
Andrew Huang, MD, MPH | Huang Lab | WashU Medicine | NIH | NEI
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.