Research to examine how chemical warfare agents affect the eyes

A University of Tennessee Health Sciences professor of ophthalmology has received a $466,103 USD [£345,550 GBP] grant to explore how chemical warfare agents affect the eyes.

Using the National Eye Institute funding, Dr Nawajes Mandal will investigate how blister agents, such as mustard gas, nitrogen mustard, lewisite and phosgene oxime, result in injuries at a molecular level.

Mandal will lead research focusing on sphingolipids – fatty molecules that are present in cell membranes, and which the scientists believe are central to the chain of events that result in lasting eye injuries following blister agent exposure.

The grant will be used to establish reliable animal models for the research and identify the precise molecular targets in the lipid signaling pathway.

“Ultimately, the goal is developing medical countermeasures,” Mandal explained.

“Once we establish the pathway, we are planning to develop some kind of countermeasure to target these lipid pathways,” he said.

Mandal’s personal history influences his commitment to preventing sight loss. His mother progressively lost her vision to diabetic retinopathy.

“Seeing someone in your own family lose their sight changes the way you think about research,” he said.

“It reminds me every day that our work is ultimately about helping patients and preserving quality of life,” Mandal emphasised.