How eye nerve cells regrow injured optic nerves
Elucidating Neuron-Intrinsic Molecular Mechanisms of Optic Nerve Regeneration
Researchers are testing genes and cell signals in retinal nerve cells to find ways to protect or restore vision for people with optic nerve injury or 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 ID | NIH-11365065 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have optic nerve damage or glaucoma, this work looks inside retinal nerve cells to find the genes and signals that let their axons regrow. The team uses a lab method called Retro-seq to label and read individual regenerating and non-regenerating retinal ganglion cells at single-cell resolution. Top candidate genes are then tested, alone and in combination, in mouse models of acute and chronic glaucoma to see which approaches protect neurons and improve visual function. The aim is to identify the most promising molecular strategies that could lead to treatments for people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with optic nerve injury or glaucoma who are seeking new treatment options would be the likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is caused by problems other than loss of optic nerve neurons, or whose neurons have been absent for many years, may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that help damaged optic nerves regrow and preserve or recover vision.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies targeting PTEN/mTOR signaling have produced notable optic nerve regrowth and neuroprotection in mice, though effects in humans remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Yang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hu, Yang
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.