Metabolic targets to protect vision in glaucoma
Official title: Metabolic vulnerability as a disease target for glaucoma
Funded at University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr · NIH-11365427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how metabolic changes in the eye and visual pathways contribute to glaucoma and how metabolic interventions might help preserve vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $352,642 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY026662-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with glaucoma or those at risk who could benefit from metabolic-targeted therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to retinal metabolism or glaucoma are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Glaucoma involves a shift in retinal and brain cell metabolism and mitochondrial problems that threaten vision. The project builds on prior work showing that eye pressure can push cells toward glycolysis and low oxygen conditions, and it aims to map where these changes originate and how they affect connected brain regions. By studying retinal ganglion cells and supporting glial cells, researchers hope to identify metabolic weaknesses and tailor therapies that address glaucoma-specific deficits. The effort leverages new tools to examine cell interactions and metabolic pathways across the retina and brain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer understanding of metabolism in glaucoma could lead to targeted therapies that protect vision by correcting energy problems in retinal and brain cells.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown metabolic changes in glaucoma and that metabolic interventions can influence disease progression, supporting potential utility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Inman, Denise M — University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Inman, Denise M
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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.