How genes influence glaucoma risk and progression
Genetic Factors for Glaucoma in the OHTS; Risk, Progression and Mechanism
This project combines long-term clinical records and genetic information to build a tool that predicts glaucoma risk and to find genes linked to faster vision loss for people with ocular hypertension or early glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260171 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and other patients’ 20 years of clinical data from the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study will be combined with results from large genetic studies to create a risk calculator that uses both genes and eye exam findings. The team will search the OHTS group for genetic markers tied to faster visual field loss and will try to confirm those markers in a separate Iowa patient group. They will examine donated human donor eyes using single-cell RNA sequencing and other lab methods to see how specific risk genes change cells in the eye. The work aims to turn genetic discoveries into information doctors can use to personalize monitoring and treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with ocular hypertension or early primary open-angle glaucoma who can provide clinical information and genetic samples or who are part of the OHTS or local validation cohorts.
Not a fit: People with non–primary open-angle glaucoma types (for example, angle-closure or clearly secondary glaucomas) or those unwilling to provide genetic samples are less likely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people know their personalized chance of developing glaucoma or of faster progression and guide more tailored monitoring and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Large genetic studies have identified many glaucoma risk genes, but translating those findings into clinical risk tools and functional mechanisms remains limited, so this project builds on prior GWAS successes while adding long-term clinical linkage and tissue-based functional studies.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fingert, John H — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Fingert, John H
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.