How immune cells in the eye drive vision loss in glaucoma
Official title: Mechanisms of microglial neuroinflammatory response in glaucoma
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11161581 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how retinal immune cells called microglia cause nerve-cell loss in glaucoma to find targets that could protect sight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Schepens Eye Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $418,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035312-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161581 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with glaucoma or at high risk of retinal ganglion cell loss would be the likely candidates for future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without glaucoma or those needing immediate pressure-lowering surgery are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Researchers use mouse glaucoma models, genetic tools, and RNA sequencing to study how microglia become inflammatory and harm retinal ganglion cells. They identified a receptor called CD300lf that is increased in microglia during glaucoma and found that mice lacking this receptor are protected from nerve-cell loss. The team will dissect the signaling pathways by which CD300lf drives inflammation and test ways to block that harmful response. The goal is to translate those findings into strategies that could prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to reduce damaging inflammation and help preserve vision in people with glaucoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical studies show that targeting microglial inflammatory pathways can protect retinal neurons in animal models, and this project builds on those promising findings focusing on the CD300lf receptor.
Where this research is happening
-
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Margeta, Milica — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Margeta, Milica
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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.