ER stress–modulating chemicals to protect vision in glaucoma
Official title: Developing ER Stress Chemical Modulators as Neuroprotectants for Glaucoma
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11394364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford team is testing small molecules that reduce stress in retinal cells to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
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 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $500,607 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036943-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with glaucoma or those at high risk of developing the disease who may benefit from future neuroprotective therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with glaucoma whose disease progresses independently of ER stress pathways may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Glaucoma causes blindness by progressively damaging retinal cells and their connections. The project builds on earlier work showing that stress in the cell's protein factory (ER stress) contributes to cell death, and that tweaking specific molecules can protect these cells. Researchers will optimize chemical compounds that either dampen CHOP activity or boost XBP-1, then test their protective effects in mouse models of glaucoma. The goal is to find drug-like candidates with strong preclinical data ready for translation to patients. This work combines cell-based screening with animal studies to move promising treatments toward clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these compounds could become neuroprotective drugs that slow or prevent vision loss in glaucoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest ER stress modulation can protect retinal cells, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Yang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hu, Yang
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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.