# Targeting Corneal Schwann cells to counteract against toxin injury

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2024 · $208,073

## Abstract

Synthetic chemical toxins developed for warfare continue to be an enigma for homeland security
should they be deployed to cause mass casualties. Sulfur mustard, a powerful ocular vesicant
causes irreversible corneal damage affecting the epithelium and stroma, as well as the abundant
network of corneal sensory nerves. Despite many studies that have examined damaging
mechanisms to the epithelium and stroma caused by vesicants, little is known regarding how
corneal nerves degenerate in this injury paradigm. This has led to a critical unmet medical need
as no therapeutic is available to protect or regenerate the vulnerable corneal nerves from such
injuries. Evidence from both human exposures and animal models of vesicant-injury reveal acute
ocular pain and chronic loss of corneal sensation manifest but their mechanisms have not been
investigated. Corneal axons are ensheathed by Schwann cells (SCs), a glial cell type that
provides trophic support to axons. In animal models of injury conducted in other peripheral
organs, SCs can actively regenerate and support the regeneration of damaged axons. Here we
hypothesize that a similar axonal-supportive role may be anticipated for corneal SCs (cSCs) in
vesicant injury. This gives an opportunity to pursue an innovative strategy to identify novel
druggable targets in cSCs. We interrogated molecular and biological pathway information gained
from our cSC-single cell RNA seq analysis and identified novel targets and biomarkers. Using a
genetically labeled SC mouse model subjected to injury experiments, we have also gained
important insight into the dynamic relationships of cSC and axons over acute and chronic stages
of injury. This model and targeting the candidate target in cSCs have provided us preliminary
data to support the idea that cSC could be targeted for axonal regeneration. In the proposed
study, we now choose FDA approved drugs for testing to illuminate the most effective method of
use that could support rapid and widespread application in any urgency. Because current
information is lacking whether these drug candidates have therapeutic efficacy in the paradigm
axonal regeneration over acute and chronic stages of vesicant injury, we include studies of
extended use. Lastly, in this innovative exploratory grant proposal we will define a new
therapeutic countermeasure against vesicant injury that exploits a combination treatment regimen
that can restore corneal refractive function and also help to regenerate corneal sensation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10851112
- **Project number:** 1R21EY035976-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** ROYCE MOHAN
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $208,073
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10851112

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10851112, Targeting Corneal Schwann cells to counteract against toxin injury (1R21EY035976-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10851112. Licensed CC0.

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