Repairing the eye's drainage support to lower pressure in steroid-related and open-angle glaucoma
Elucidating the molecular changes of the outflow pathway extracellular matrix that regulate outflow facility in steroid-induced ocular hypertension and open angle glaucoma
This work tests whether reversing changes in the support tissue around drainage cells can help lower eye pressure for people with steroid-induced high eye pressure and open-angle glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Suny Downstate Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302646 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have open-angle glaucoma or pressure from steroid use, the team is studying the meshwork that drains fluid from my eye to see how its scaffold (extracellular matrix) changes and blocks flow. They use lab-grown biomimetic tissue models and animal models to mimic the human drainage tissues and measure how treatments change outflow. The researchers are testing enzymes like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and molecules that increase matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) to restore normal matrix turnover and fluid exit. The goal is to identify ways to reverse the harmful matrix changes so fluid can drain better and pressure stays lower.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with open-angle glaucoma or steroid-induced elevations in eye pressure, especially those whose high intraocular pressure is linked to trabecular meshwork dysfunction, would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: People with angle-closure glaucoma, eye pressure unrelated to trabecular meshwork dysfunction, or those who cannot undergo potential future treatments targeting the outflow pathway may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new treatments that restore eye drainage and lower intraocular pressure in people with steroid-induced ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory and animal studies have shown that tPA and MMP9 can improve outflow and reduce pressure, but translating these findings into human therapies is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, United States
- Suny Downstate Medical Center — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Danias, John — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Danias, John
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 below.