How serotonin receptors affect retinal cells in glaucoma
Official title: Mechanisms of serotonin and serotonin receptor biology in normal and glaucomatous retinas
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11599300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how serotonin signals in the eye’s retina may influence glaucoma by looking at human and mouse retinal cells and how certain drugs touching serotonin pathways alter retinal function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $451,423 |
| NIH project number | 7R01EY035646-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11599300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or without glaucoma who could contribute retinal tissue data or participate in future related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individual patients without access to future trials or tissue donation opportunities may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Glaucoma damages retinal cells and their connections, and this study explores whether serotonin pathways in the eye contribute to the disease. Researchers are examining serotonin receptors in retinal cells from humans and mice to understand their role in normal vision and in glaucoma-like conditions. They will use tissue analysis, imaging, and functional tests to see how activating or blocking these receptors affects retinal cells, especially the cells guiding vision. The work builds on prior findings that serotonin-related drugs might influence retinal function and disease progression. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new approaches for protecting vision in glaucoma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new serotonin-related targets to protect retinal cells and slow glaucoma progression.
How similar studies have gone: Initial studies show serotonin receptors are present in retinal cells and influence function, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frankfort, Benjamin J — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Frankfort, Benjamin J
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.