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Teri Belecky-Adams, Ph.D.
Trustees of Indiana University
Indianapolis, IN
Title:
Bmp7 and glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
The role of growth factor Bmp7 in gliosis and ganglion cell survival
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010
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Summary: This study will focus on understanding the role of a growth factor, Bmp7, in both the increased survival of ganglion cells and the disruptive changes the glial cells undergo during glaucoma.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Adriana Di Polo, Ph.D.
University of Montreal
Montreal, Canada
Title:
Novel drug-based neuroprotective therapies for glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Novel neuroprotective strategies for glaucoma.
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - September 30, 2010
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Summary: This study will investigate the clinical potential of galantamine, a member of the acetylcholinesterase family, for the treatment of glaucoma. The study may lead to more effective drug-based therapies for treatment, and provide insight for the design of small molecule neuroprotective compounds with high specificity and few side effects.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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C. Ross Ethier, Ph.D.
Imperial College London
London, England
Title:
Suitability of Hydrostatic Pressure Model for Studying Glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
Suitable Models for Glaucoma Research
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - December 31, 2010
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Summary: It has been previously shown that pressure has important effects on nerve cells in the eye. The way the pressure was applied to the cells in these previous studies may not be suitable for studying what occurs in glaucoma. This project will study whether this way of applying pressure to cells is useful for understanding the response of cells in glaucoma. They will repeat previous experiments, but will remove possible confounding effects. They will also measure oxygen levels and pH near the cells in a novel way that will help determine if the cells are being inadvertently exposed to a toxic environment in these experiments.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Nigar Fatma, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE
Title:
Unveiling The Role Of Peroxiredoxin 6 In Maintaining Trabecular Meshwork Homeostasis
Non-Technical Title:
Treatment And Prevention Of Glaucoma By The Protein PRDX6
Duration:
April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: Progression of glaucoma appears to be related to overstimulation of certain genes that control the matrix surrounding cells in a part of the eye, called the Trabecular Meshwork (TM).This overstimulation occurs when TM cells face oxidative stress due to reduced levels of antioxidant(s). By supplying Peroxiredoxin 6, PRDX6, an antioxidant protein, we will be able to restore these over modulated genes by blocking oxidative stress-induced deleterious signaling.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$93,991
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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 - March 31, 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.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Jeffrey Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, FL
Title:
Manipulating Kruppel-Like Factors for RGC Regeneration
Non-Technical Title:
Enhancing optic nerve regeneration with gene therapy
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2012
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Summary: As a result of glaucoma, retinal ganglion cells (RGC) axons are damaged in the optic nerve head, and fail to regenerate through the optic nerve. Here we study methods to enhance RGCs' intrinsic capacity for optic nerve regeneration through manipulation of the “KLF” family of transcription factors using a gene therapy approach. Enhancing optic nerve regeneration may enhance recovery from glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Daniel Goldman, Ph.D.
The Regents of the University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Title:
Müller glia-dependent regeneration of retinal ganglion cells
Non-Technical Title:
Retinal ganglion cell regeneration for retinal repair
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2012
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Summary: This research aims to test the hypothesis that retinal ganglion cell death stimulates “Müller glia” dedifferentiation into a population of proliferating retinal progenitors that can regenerate lost retinal ganglion cells. We propose to use zebrafish in these studies because of their robust regenerative powers. Our approach is to first generate a transgenic zebrafish model of retinal ganglion cell death, similar to that which occurs during glaucoma, and then investigate if Müller glia can regenerate these damaged cells.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Haiyan Gong, M.D., Ph.D.
Boston University
Boston, MA
Title:
A Potential Target Site To Decrease Outflow Resistance
Non-Technical Title:
A Potential Target Site To Lower Eye Pressure In Glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: The goal of this study is to better understand the mechanisms involved in the regulation of aqueous outflow resistance in non-human and human eyes and to determine whether the connectivity between the inner wall of Schlemm's canal and underlying matrix in a portion of the eye, termed the trabecular meshwork, can be targeted to reduce outflow resistance, thus lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in human eyes as it occurs in non-human eyes.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Abigail Hackam, Ph.D.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Miami, FL
Title:
Neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells by Muller glia: Investigation of the role of the Wnt signaling pathway.
Non-Technical Title:
Investigation of novel treatments for glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - September 30, 2010
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Summary: These experiments will determine whether Wnt molecules can protect retinal ganglion cells from dying, will identify how Wnts promote survival, and will elucidate the role of Muller glia in glaucoma. The results of this study will provide new insights into glaucoma and may reveal novel directions towards developing preventive therapies.
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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 - March 31, 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.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
