November 12, 2019

Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, Receives Pilot & Feasibility Grant from the Diabetic Complications Consortium (DiaComp)

The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)-sponsored grant will fund research looking into the therapeutic potential for a new mechanism-based approach in diabetic neuropathy.

The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)-sponsored grant will fund research looking into the therapeutic potential for a new mechanism-based approach in diabetic neuropathy.

The NIDDK-sponsored Diabetic Complications Consortium (DiaComp) awarded Program for Neurology Research & Discovery Director Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., with a Pilot & Feasibility Grant: a one-year award of $100,000. The funds will support research in a new mechanism-based approach to treat diabetic (peripheral) neuropathy.

Dr. Eva Feldman and Dr. Stephanie Eid
Dr. Eva Feldman and Dr. Stephanie Eid

Peripheral neuropathy (or peripheral nerve damage) is a common and disabling complication of diabetes, prediabetes and obesity. Until now, no effective treatment for peripheral neuropathy has been discovered and management consists of glucose control and pain relief. Evidence has shown that reactive oxygen species production is an important factor that contributes to the cellular and molecular injury of peripheral neuropathy. NOX5 is one of the enzymes that generates reactive oxygen species, and is only present in humans and higher mammals. Preliminary results from our team show increased levels of NOX5 in peripheral nerves of patients with peripheral neuropathy, so the grant will seek to validate the role of NOX5 as a major player in the development and progression of this complication in an animal model that expresses the human gene and look at the therapeutic potential of targeting this enzyme.