Cooperative Agreement W81XWH1120039

ESK Therapeutics, Inc. received a $330,169 Project Grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The grant supports the development and preclinical validation of CornéaClear, a first-in-class biologic eyedrop therapeutic designed to treat persistent corneal epithelial defects (PCED) resulting from disease or trauma. The project aims to address a significant market gap, as no FDA-approved therapy...

The Department of the Army Medical Command awarded a $1,428,860 Project Grant to The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc. of Boston, MA under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) to investigate the safety and efficacy of supersaturated oxygen emulsion (SSOE) as a novel topical treatment for open globe injury. The three-year award beginning September 30, 2022 will support animal research using mice to test SSOE and controls supplied by sub-awardee Coruna Medical...

Summary Washington State University has received a $482,067 Project Grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research federal grant program (CFDA 93.867), effective August 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The grant supports the development of nanotherapies for targeted treatment of corneal neovascularization (CONV), a sight-threatening condition characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth into the cornea that disrupts normal corneal anatomy and causes opacity. Current...

Federal Project Grant Award Summary The National Eye Institute (NEI), under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), awarded $1.79M to The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc. (September 1, 2025–August 31, 2027) to investigate non-invasive transpalpebral electrical stimulation (TPES) as a therapeutic intervention for diabetic keratopathy (DK), a common eye complication affecting individuals with diabetes. The research will deliver scientific evidence and data regarding the effectiveness of...

Federal Grant Award Summary The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc. received a $295,500 Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director under the Trans-NIH Research Support program (CFDA 93.310), with an award date of September 15, 2025, and completion date of August 31, 2027. The project focuses on developing cytoprotective and pro-regenerative therapeutic countermeasures to treat ocular damage caused by mustard gas exposure. Specifically, the research...

Grant Award Summary The University of California, Irvine received a $773,760 Project Grant from the National Eye Institute (CFDA 93.867—Vision Research) awarded on September 15, 2025, to develop non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic assessment tools for thyroid eye disease (TED). Under Dr. Ediriwickrema's leadership and mentorship by Dr. Bernard Choi, the project employs Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI)—a multi-wavelength optical imaging technology developed at UCI's Beckman Laser...

Federal Grant Award Summary DUB Therapeutics Inc. received a $1,009,285 Project Grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) to advance the preclinical development of DUB-001, a novel short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic designed to prevent postoperative scarring and bleb failure following trabeculectomy surgery for glaucoma treatment. The award, effective September 15, 2025, through August 31, 2027, funds critical preclinical studies that will...

Summary: In Vivo Imaging of the Immune Response in Human Uveitis The University of Pittsburgh received a $679,650 Project Grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) to develop and validate innovative diagnostic tools for uveitis, a disease responsible for up to 10% of blindness in the United States. The research project, which commenced June 1, 2026 and concludes May 31, 2030, delivers non-invasive optical imaging biomarkers using adaptive...

The National Eye Institute (NEI) has awarded a $356,485 Project Grant to Stellular Bio, Inc. under the NEI's Vision Research federal grant program (CFDA 93.867) to support the scale-up and manufacturing of STLR-201, an off-the-shelf regenerative therapeutic for Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye disease (SSDE). STLR-201 is a platelet and stem cell-based product that promotes corneal epithelial cell proliferation and improves corneal barrier integrity, addressing the critical unmet need for a...

Federal Grant Award Summary The National Eye Institute (NEI), under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), awarded Kuria Therapeutics, Inc. a Project Grant of $799,730 effective September 30, 2025, with completion targeted for August 31, 2026. The grant supports Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies for KTX-1161, a novel topical eye drop designed to protect corneal endothelial cells during cataract surgery and treat Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. The active ingredient,...