Investigating blood flow issues in glaucoma
Official title: Vascular dysfunction in glaucoma
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11191367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how problems with blood flow might affect people with glaucoma, a condition that can lead to blindness, and it hopes to find out if improving blood flow could help those who are still losing their vision even with current treatments.
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 | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $388,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY032520-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11191367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with glaucoma who are experiencing vision loss despite treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with glaucoma who have not been diagnosed or those whose vision loss is unrelated to blood flow issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how blood flow abnormalities contribute to glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. It aims to explore the relationship between elevated intraocular pressure and reduced blood flow, which may impair optic nerve function. Using advanced imaging techniques like multiparametric MRI, the study will assess blood flow and optic nerve health in both animal models and humans. The goal is to determine if improving blood flow could serve as a new treatment strategy for glaucoma patients who continue to lose vision despite current therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that improve vision preservation for glaucoma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting blood flow abnormalities in glaucoma, suggesting that this approach may be viable.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Muir, Eric Raymond — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Muir, Eric Raymond
Related research
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A new, easy-to-use AI screening approach will be tested in federally funded health centers to help identify people at risk for glaucoma, especially in communities with higher risk.
-
Understanding how glaucoma genes control eye cell function
A long-term research project will study how genetic factors affect eye cells in adults with glaucoma to uncover new ideas for protecting vision.
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.