Purified myocilin and glaucoma: understanding a protein misfolding disease
Official title: Characterization of purified myocilin: glaucoma as a protein misfolding disease
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11448745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at a major university is exploring how a protein called myocilin misfolds and contributes to glaucoma, with the goal of informing future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2011 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $590,814 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY021205-15A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with hereditary open-angle glaucoma or related myocilin-linked glaucoma variations who may benefit from future targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without myocilin-related glaucoma or those not involved in translational studies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project studies how myocilin builds up in the eye and causes cell damage that raises eye pressure, a key factor in glaucoma. It builds on years of prior work to map the protein’s structure, misfolding behavior, and how it triggers disease processes. The team uses advanced lab techniques to understand how misfolded myocilin interacts with eye tissues and how potential precision medicines might counteract these effects. The findings could guide the development of therapies that target the root cause rather than just lowering eye pressure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that address the underlying myocilin misfolding to prevent vision loss from glaucoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has clarified the molecular details of myocilin misfolding and informed precision medicine approaches, with ongoing translation efforts.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lieberman, Raquel L — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Lieberman, Raquel L
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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.