Longitudinal eye changes in naturally occurring glaucoma in nonhuman primates
Official title: Longitudinal Ocular Changes in Naturally Occurring Glaucoma Animal Model
Funded at Wills Eye Health System · NIH-11418950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in rhesus macaques with naturally occurring glaucoma will track eye changes over time to better understand how glaucoma develops in a way that reflects human disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wills Eye Health System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,628 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035174-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are rhesus macaques with naturally occurring glaucoma within participating facilities and ongoing veterinary oversight.
✕Less likely to help
Animals without glaucoma or without access to this monitoring protocol may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows a group of rhesus macaques that naturally develop glaucoma to observe how their eyes change over several years. Researchers will monitor structural and functional markers, using nonhuman primate models that closely resemble the human eye, to capture the disease’s natural course without treatment confounding the timeline. The study aims to identify early indicators and patterns unique to spontaneous glaucoma, which could inform how we detect and manage the condition in people. Findings could help bridge the gap between animal research and human disease by improving translational relevance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve early detection and understanding of glaucoma progression in humans, potentially guiding more effective interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with nonhuman primate glaucoma has shown translational value, but naturally occurring cases are relatively rare and less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Wills Eye Health System
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wollstein, Gadi — Wills Eye Health System
- Study coordinator: Wollstein, Gadi
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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.