Dr. Sosne studies the anti-inflammatory and angiogenic properties of Tß4, which may provide relief for those suffering from optical injuries, surface wounds and ulcers, infections and diabetes.

If you get a scratch or abrasion on the surface of your eye, there are no interventions available to jump-start injury recovery. Generally, ophthalmologists can only offer antibiotics that help the eye resist infection while it heals on its own. Through his research at Wayne State University, Gabriel Sosne, MD, believes he has found a new healing agent in thymosin beta 4 (Tß4).

While doing a fellowship at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research with Dr. Hynda Kleinman, Dr. Sosne studied Tß4’s ability to increase angiogenesis in wounds on the skin’s surface. Dr. Sosne, a clinical ophthalmologist at Henry Ford Hospital and adjunct assistant professor in WSU’s Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, began applying that work to his specialty.

“The epithelial cells on the skin’s surface are similar in derivation to the cells on the cornea’s surface. We began to think that if Tß4 prompts blood flow to wounds like bed sores, it may also work in corneal injuries,” said Dr. Sosne.

His hunch was absolutely correct. This summer, Dr. Sosne presented a paper at the International Symposium on Ocular Trauma and shared evidence of Tß4’s ability to promote wound healing and decrease inflammation following alkali burns and injuries to the cornea.

Dr. Sosne collaborates with Dr. Linda Hazlett’s laboratory and is currently securing a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to continue these studies. “While I was working at NIH, I heard about Dr. Hazlett and knew that she was considered a leader in visual sciences research. As soon as I returned to Detroit, I began working with her and her colleagues and we have cemented a wonderful research relationship.”

Dr. Sosne is one of many local physicians who does clinical work, but remains committed to academic medicine. He credits Dr. Julian Nussbaum, chair of eye care services at Henry Ford, and Dr. Linda Hazlett, chair of anatomy and cell biology at WSU, for allowing him to combine research and clinical abilities in relevant projects.