Cholinergic Dysfunction in Glaucoma
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11418841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant funds research to understand how brain cholinergic signaling relates to glaucoma in adults and animal models, aiming to uncover new pathways beyond eye pressure to explain vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,050 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036070-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with glaucoma or related eye/visual pathway concerns, plus suitable animal model data to translate findings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without glaucoma or related visual pathway involvement may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Glaucoma is not fully explained by eye pressure alone, and some people worsen even when pressure is controlled. This project uses advanced brain MRI and MRS techniques to study cholinergic signals in glaucoma patients and rat models, pursuing a clearer picture of how the brain’s cholinergic system contributes to disease progression. The team will test how changing cholinergic function affects visual pathways, aiming to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to protect vision. The work blends human studies with animal models to map structural and functional changes along the visual system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new brain-based targets or therapies to slow or prevent vision loss in glaucoma beyond lowering eye pressure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work using MRI/MRS has begun to reveal cholinergic changes in glaucoma, with ongoing studies building on these methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Kevin C — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Chan, Kevin C
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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.