One-Time CRISPR Therapy to Improve Eye Drainage in Glaucoma
Official title: OutFlowGen: One-Time CRISPR Therapy for Glaucoma
Funded at Outflowgen LLC · NIH-11405130 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A one-time genetic therapy delivered into the eye aims to lower pressure in people with glaucoma by relaxing the eye’s drainage tissue and improving fluid outflow, potentially reducing the need for daily eye drops.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Outflowgen LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $311,049 |
| NIH project number | 1R41EY039138-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405130 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with primary open-angle glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure who would benefit from improved aqueous humor drainage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glaucoma or those unlikely to benefit from changes in trabecular meshwork dynamics may not benefit.
What this research studies
Glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss when pressure builds up inside the eye. This project tests a single-use treatment that uses tiny lipid carriers to deliver CRISPR components to modify ROCK genes in eye tissue, aiming to relax the drainage pathway and lower intraocular pressure. The study includes optimizing the therapy in lab models and then comparing it to a standard ROCK-inhibitor in donor eyes with glaucoma. If successful, this approach could offer a long-lasting, adherence-independent option for controlling eye pressure in many patients. The work is early-stage (Phase I) and involves collaboration with an entity developing the therapy for human use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience lower eye pressure from a single treatment rather than daily medications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar approaches in preclinical or ex vivo models show potential for lowering intraocular pressure via ROCK pathway modification, but human data are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Outflowgen LLC
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acott, Ted S — Outflowgen LLC
- Study coordinator: Acott, Ted S
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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.