# TRPM8 in eye health and disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $397,697

## Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of tear film
homeostasis. DED is one of the most common ophthalmological disorders, affecting 5-50% of populations world-
wide, with a higher apparent incidence in females and aging populations. Symptoms associated with DED
include ocular pain, irritation, dysesthesia, and blurred vision, which are major causes of visits to optometry and
ophthalmology clinics. DED affects quality of life significantly and thus is a major public health concern. Despite
the gravity of DED, the current treatments for DED are limited. Recent studies have uncovered the role of ocular
sensory neurons, particularly cold thermoreceptor neurons, in the etiology of DED as well as ocular physiology.
Furthermore, recent studies highlight the role of the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8 in cold sensory neurons
in eye health and disease. The proposed research seeks to address the mechanism of ligand-dependent gating
by TRPM8 and to develop agonists targeting TRPM8 to relieve DED, dry eye discomfort, and ocular pain. Toward
these goals, we will employ a combination of structural biology, electrophysiology, chemical biology, and animal
studies to interrogate the roles of TRPM8 in ocular physiology and pathophysiology as well as its
pharmacological interventions. Taken together, successful completion of this work will provide the framework for
therapeutic development on TRPM8, which will have far-reaching implications in treating ocular disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10405018
- **Project number:** 5R01EY031698-03
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jiyong Hong
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $397,697
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10405018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10405018, TRPM8 in eye health and disease (5R01EY031698-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10405018. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*