Microglia-driven inflammation in glaucoma and its impact on retinal cells
Official title: Mechanisms of microglial neuroinflammatory response in glaucoma
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11418878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in mice looks at how immune cells in the eye’s retina (microglia) drive damage in glaucoma and tests if blocking a specific receptor can protect retinal cells.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035312-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with glaucoma or at risk of glaucoma who could benefit from therapies targeting microglial inflammation (the study itself uses mouse models, not patients).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without forms of glaucoma or neuroinflammatory eye conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates how microglia, the retina’s immune cells, contribute to glaucoma-related nerve cell loss. Using mouse models, researchers will study a receptor called CD300lf linked to microglial inflammation and test whether removing or blocking it reduces retinal ganglion cell death. The work relies on RNA data and genetic/pharmacologic approaches to see if dampening this inflammatory pathway preserves vision. Findings could reveal new targets to slow or prevent irreversible vision loss in glaucoma patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new therapies that protect vision by calming retinal inflammation in glaucoma.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed that targeting microglial pathways can protect retinal neurons in mouse glaucoma models, supporting potential for similar strategies in humans.
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.