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XiangRun Huang, Ph.D.
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Miami, FL
Title:
Glaucomatous Damage Mechanisms: Axonal Cytoskeleton and Relation to Birefringence of Retina Nerve Fiber Layer
Non-Technical Title:
How are Cellular Structures in Retinal Axons Damaged in Glaucoma?
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: Little is known about the changes in optical properties caused by glaucoma, nor is it understood what changes in cellular structure might enable detection of abnormal tissue in patients. This study seeks to enhance this knowledge. Since change in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) structure precedes RNFL loss, detecting early structural change could facilitate treatment to prevent or even reverse glaucomatous damage. The study may also lead to improved sensitivity for RNFL damage in clinical testing of patients.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Tatjana Jakobs, M.D.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, MA
Title:
Astrocyte Reactions To Optic Nerve Damage
Non-Technical Title:
Supporting Cells In The Glaucomatous Optic Nerve: Harmful Or Helpful?
Duration:
April 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
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Summary: The optic nerve is damaged in glaucoma which interrupts the communication of the eye with the brain. Non-neuronal (glial) cells in the optic nerve may be directly involved, either by harming the nerve fibers, or by protecting them. It is therefore important to understand the role of these cells in glaucoma more fully.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$50,000
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Mark Johnson, Ph.D.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Title:
Biomechanical Characterization Of SC Cells
Non-Technical Title:
Cell Stiffness In Glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: Are the cells of the inner wall of Schlemm's canal stiffer in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes? If so, is this stiffness change responsible for the elevated intraocular pressure characteristic of glaucoma.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$84,197
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Paul Kaufman, M.D.
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Madison, WI
Title:
Vitamin D Effects On Anterior Segment Physiology In Monkeys
Non-Technical Title:
Vitamin D, A Potential Glaucoma Therapy?
Duration:
April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: Is vitamin D a potential glaucoma therapy? Can it lower intraocular pressure after topical application? What are the target tissues in the eye and what is the mechanism for the intraocular pressure lowering effect?
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Jeffrey Kiel, Ph.D.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Title:
Regulation of episcleral venuos pressure
Non-Technical Title:
Is a key controller of intraocular pressure regulated?
Duration:
April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2012
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Summary: Episcleral venous pressure (EVP) is a primary cause of intraocular pressure (IOP), yet we know little about it. The episcleral blood vessels have nerves, which suggests that EVP is regulated, but we do not know if failure of EVP regulation causes high IOP, or if we can lower EVP with drugs as a new way to treat glaucoma. This project seeks to shed light on the answers to these questions.
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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 - March 31, 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.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Raghu Krishnamoorthy, Ph.D.
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, TX
Title:
Regulation of endothelin B receptor expression in glaucomatous optic neuropathy
Non-Technical Title:
Role of endothelin receptors in glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - June 9, 2010
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Summary: This study will determine if endothelin receptors produce some of the nerve damage seen in glaucoma. Understanding how endothelin receptors damage nerve cells will provide valuable information for blocking these receptors and protecting nerve cells from further damage. This could lead to development of neuroprotective drugs to effectively treat glaucoma.
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Program: Glaucoma
Award Type: Standard
$100,000
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Raquel Lieberman, Ph.D.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
Title:
Development of pharmacological chaperone therapy for inherited primary and juvenile open angle glaucoma
Non-Technical Title:
The search for a new therapy for inherited glaucoma
Duration:
April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2011
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Summary: The researchers' aim is to develop a new therapy for inherited glaucoma, which in many cases is caused by mutations in a protein called myocilin.
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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 - March 31, 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, 2012
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
