# Investigating the role of scleral fibroblasts in refractive development and myopia

> **NIH NIH F32** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $74,284

## Abstract

Abstract
Myopia or ‘nearsightedness’ is rapidly approaching pandemic levels worldwide. If left to the current trajectory,
it is predicted that half of the world will be myopic by 2050. It is critical we develop novel treatments to prevent
and treat the underlying causes of myopia rather than just correcting blurred vision caused by refractive error.
To do this, we need to understand refractive development programs at the cell and cell signaling levels. It is
known that refractive development intricately intertwines input from environmental visual stimuli, retinoscleral
signaling, and scleral remodeling. This proposal specifically focuses on the ultimate consequence of myopia,
scleral ECM remodeling by resident fibroblasts. I hypothesize that scleral fibroblasts follow a specific
developmental differentiation program that is disrupted following exposure to myopic stimuli, which results in
aberrant cellular signaling and responses. In aim one, I will use the mouse model to identify fibroblast
characteristics in eyes that successfully undergo refractive development resulting in no refractive error
(emmetropia). I will then directly compare the changes that occur in mice that have been exposed to myopic
stimuli. These myopigenesis models include lens-induced myopia (LIM), which uses a negatively powered
lens placed in the visual pathway to stimulate myopic eye growth. Furthermore, work from the Pardue and
Ethier labs has shown that feeding the biologically active metabolite of retinoic acid (RA) signaling, all-trans-
retinoic acid (atRA), to mice is sufficient to induce similar myopic changes in the sclera. This, paired with
data showing increases in RA metabolites in myopic retinas, suggests a role for RA signaling in driving
myopia. In aim two, I will determine the role of retinoic acid signaling in myopia. Independent of whether the
hypotheses laid out in the proposal are supported, the results of these studies will provide valuable
information to myopia and vision research communities. To perform these studies, I will need to develop
skills including measuring refractive error and axial length in vivo, performing imaging techniques such as
multiphoton microscopy techniques and RNA scope, and learning the background knowledge needed to do
research in an entirely new system, the eye. These skills will be critical as I pursue my long-term goal of
becoming an independent researcher at an academic institution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10902930
- **Project number:** 1F32EY035573-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa R Bentley
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $74,284
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10902930

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10902930, Investigating the role of scleral fibroblasts in refractive development and myopia (1F32EY035573-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10902930. Licensed CC0.

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