Cell recycling (autophagy) and nerve-cell loss in glaucoma
Autophagy and Retinal Ganglion Cell Death in Glaucoma
This research looks at whether changes in cells' recycling systems (autophagy) cause retinal nerve-cell loss in people with glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169805 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have glaucoma, researchers at Duke are studying how the cell-cleanup process called autophagy affects retinal ganglion cells and their axons using laboratory and animal models of glaucoma. They will measure signs of autophagy and experimentally boost or block the pathway to see how those changes affect nerve-cell survival. The team aims to pin down molecular triggers of cell death that happen even when eye pressure is lowered. The results are intended to point toward new treatments that protect vision by keeping retinal nerve cells alive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with glaucoma, especially those at risk of progressive retinal ganglion cell loss or worsening visual field defects, are the population most likely to benefit from future therapies based on this research.
Not a fit: Patients without glaucoma or those with very advanced, irreversible vision loss from glaucoma are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new neuroprotective therapies that help preserve vision in glaucoma patients beyond current pressure-lowering treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory and animal studies have linked autophagy to neuronal survival in glaucoma and other neurodegenerations, but clinical therapies targeting autophagy for glaucoma have not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liton, Paloma — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Liton, Paloma
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.