# Regulatory roles for collagen XII in establishment of corneal stromal structure and function and re-establishment after injury

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2020 · $373,750

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This application addresses the general hypothesis that collagen XII is essential for the acquisition of corneal
stroma structure and function, and for reacquisition after injury. The concept that collagen XII modulates
stromal wound healing is innovative and opens multiple translational prospects. Scar amelioration is noted
during wound healing in the absence of collagen XII. Our overall goal is to provide a foundation to develop
applications for matrix deposition manipulation during wound healing, and provide a rational basis for
pharmaceutical and surgical therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting scarless stromal regeneration. The
specific aims are to: (1) elucidate the regulatory roles of collagen XII in the acquisition of stromal structure and
function; (2) determine the mechanism(s) whereby collagen XII regulates stromal wound healing; and (3)
identify therapeutic interventions involving modulation of collagen XII to decrease human stromal scar
formation during wound healing. The aims will test the hypotheses that: (1) differential and regulated
expression of collagen XII is a critical mechanism required for acquisition of stromal structure and function; (2)
collagen XII expression patterns observed in development and maturation are recapitulated during adult
stromal wound healing to regulate stromal healing and scar formation; and (3) down-regulating collagen XII
expression favors stromal regeneration over scarring. Therefore, modulation of collagen XII expression will
have a positive impact on the reacquisition of normal stromal structure and function. This proposal will have
significant impact, providing critical information for the development of novel medical and surgical therapies
for patients with stromal scars, by far the most common indication for anterior lamellar and penetrating full
thickness transplantation in America.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979967
- **Project number:** 5R01EY029395-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Edgar Mauricio Espana
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $373,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979967

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979967, Regulatory roles for collagen XII in establishment of corneal stromal structure and function and re-establishment after injury (5R01EY029395-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979967. Licensed CC0.

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