This Project Grant award from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the NIH Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) provides $192,500 to Wayne State University to study the effects of acute and chronic opioid exposure on ocular innate immunity and the resulting impact on the incidence and severity of infectious endophthalmitis. The project aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which opioids impair the innate immune responses of retinal and myeloid cells (AIM 1), and to determine whether opioid use disorder (OUD) increases susceptibility and severity of endophthalmitis in mouse models (AIM 2). The knowledge gained from this 2-year study could have a significant impact on understanding and addressing ocular infections among substance abusers, as well as contribute to the development of new therapeutic interventions in this area.
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