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Julie Albon, Ph.D.
Cardiff University
Cardiff, Wales
Title:
Discs at Risk: Novel Optic Nerve Head Phenotyping in Glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
A Quantitative Index that Characterizes Optic Nerves at Risk of Glaucoma
Duration:
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013
Co-Investigator(s):
Wolfgang Drexler, Ph.D.
Medical University Vienna
Michael Girard, Ph.D.
Imperial College, London
James Morgan, D.Phil., FRCOphth, Rachel North, Ph.D.
Cardiff University, Wales
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Summary: The lamina cribrosa is a structure in the optic nerve that is altered in glaucoma, resulting in vision loss. The aim of this project is to identify early signs of changes in lamina cribrosa integrity before nerve fibers are damaged and vision is lost. These signs will be used to determine a novel quantitative index that will be used to determine which optic nerves are at risk of developing disease.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Michael Julien Alexandre Girard, Ph.D.
Imperial College London
London, England
Title:
In Vivo Corneal Biomechanics: A Biomarker for Glaucoma?
Non-Technical Title:
Can Corneal Stiffness Predict Vision Loss from Glaucoma?
Duration:
July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2013
Co-Investigator(s):
Nick Strouthidis, MBBS, M.D., MRCOphth
Moorfields Eye Hospital
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Summary: In this project we are exploring the relationship between the mechanical behavior of the cornea, a structure located at the front of the eye, and glaucoma - a potentially blinding condition which affects the optic nerve head, a structure located at the back of the eye. Specifically, we are looking to see whether understanding and quantifying corneal mechanical behavior in humans can be used to predict the likelihood of glaucoma, and of visual loss from glaucoma. This endeavor will have important implications for the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, one of the world's leading causes of blindness.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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David J. Calkins, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN, United States
Title:
Mapping the Protein and Lipid Signature of Glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Molecular Changes Underlying Vision Loss in Glaucoma
Duration:
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013
Co-Investigator(s):
Kevin Schey, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt University
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Summary: Vision loss in glaucoma involves death of the optic nerve through unknown changes in the composition of the retina and nerve. Our studies will measure how elevated pressure in the eye causes compositional changes in the retina and optic nerve by imaging specific groups of molecules in intact tissue. This will help us identify new targets for potential treatments.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Michael Fautsch, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Rochester, MN
Title:
Role of intracranial hypotension on optic neuropathy
Non-Technical Title:
Decreased intracranial pressure and glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - September 30, 2012
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Summary: The proposed study will develop an animal model of decreased intracranial pressure and examine whether the lowering of intracranial pressure has a role in the development of glaucoma-like changes in the optic nerve and retinal ganglion cells.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Gareth Howell, Ph.D.
The Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, ME
Title:
Characterizing the Endothelin System in Glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Determining the importance of Endothelins in glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - September 30, 2012
Co-Investigator(s):
Simon John,
The Jackson Laboratory
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Summary: No therapies are available that target neuronal death in glaucoma. Here, we assess an important pathway, the Endothelin System, to better understand the mechanisms of neuronal cell death. Endothelins are normally thought to influence, blood pressure. However, this work could lead to the development of improved therapies for human glaucoma.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Paul A. Knepper, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States
Title:
Activation of Innate Immune Toll-4 Receptor in POAG
Non-Technical Title:
Activation of Innate Immunity System and Gluacoma
Duration:
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013
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Summary: We have identified a unified signaling pathway based on activation of innate immune system which results in an inflammatory cascade resulting in POAG. We have identified that cell trauma causes low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid to start the pathway. Prevention of degradation of high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid by potent hyaluronidase inhibitor could be novel therapy and the first therapy directly aimed at the cause of POAG.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Peter Koulen, Ph.D.
University of Missouri at Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Title:
Protection of ONH astrocytes and structure in glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Protection of the most damaged eye structure in glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - September 30, 2012
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Summary: Degeneration or acute damage of the retina due to glaucoma related disease processes is a major cause of visual loss and blindness in the United States and worldwide. As glaucoma affects significant and increasing portions of the U.S. population including minorities affected by disparities in health care delivery, determining causes, mechanisms of action and subsequently potential treatment strategies will contribute to improving health care, health and performance requiring visual tasks. This study uses a novel mechanism underlying a self-defense mechanism of the retina to protect a critical structure of the retina, the optic nerve head, in order to develop new treatment strategies that have the potential to be complementary in nature to current strategies aimed at neuroprotection or aimed at lowering intraocular pressure.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Chirstopher Kai-shun Leung, M.D.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China
Title:
Role of CX3CR1 in Microglia Activation and Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration in Glaucoma - An in Vivo Imaging Study
Non-Technical Title:
The Role of Microglia Activation in Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration
Duration:
July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2013
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Summary: This study is designed to address the role of microglia activation in relation to retinal ganglion cell degeneration by directly visualizing the interaction between microglia and RGCs with live imaging with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in experimental glaucoma. We investigate if knocking out the CX3CR1 gene, a gene implicated in mediating the communication between retinal ganglion cells and microglia, could reduce the activation of microglia and enhance the survival of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Jun Liu, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
Title:
Corneal stiffness and tonometric measurements of IOP
Non-Technical Title:
Influence of corneal stiffness on measurement of intraocular pressure
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - September 30, 2012
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Summary: Accurate measurement of intraocular pressure is important for glaucoma management. The clinical standard, Goldmann applanation tonometry is known to be affected by corneal thickness and potentially other corneal factors. This study investigates how corneal stiffness may affect the accuracy of Goldmann tonometric measurement of intraocular pressure.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Yutao Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Duke University
Durham, NC
Title:
The Role of Galactosylceramidase in Glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Roles of DNA copy number and sequence variants of galactosylceramidase gene in glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2013
Co-Investigator(s):
Michael Hauser,
Duke University
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Summary: This represents the first report of genomic copy number variants that confer a substantially increased risk of POAG. Considering how common CNVs are in the human genome this may be the first of many such associations. Further characterization of the GALC CNVs will improve our understanding of the etiology of primary open angle glaucoma, and could lead to the development of new tests or treatments for this debilitating disease.
More details
Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
