Targeting cell signaling to help optic nerve repair
Phosphoinositide Signaling and Optic Nerve Regeneration
Researchers are testing whether fixing specific cell-signaling and stress pathways can help damaged optic nerves regrow for people with glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258407 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse model that mimics glaucoma by raising eye pressure with silicone oil to study retinal ganglion cell loss. Scientists watch ganglion cells with special calcium sensors and manipulate a protein called INPP5K along with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways. They measure whether these interventions boost protein synthesis, promote axon (optic nerve) regrowth, and improve ganglion cell function. The goal is to find approaches that could eventually be translated into treatments to restore vision after glaucoma-related nerve damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glaucoma who have lost vision due to retinal ganglion cell and optic nerve damage would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials based on this research.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss comes from non-glaucoma causes (for example macular degeneration or cataract) are unlikely to benefit from these optic nerve–focused strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to treatments that encourage optic nerve regeneration and help preserve or restore vision in glaucoma patients.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies targeting related signaling and stress pathways have produced some axon regrowth, but restoring vision in humans with these methods remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Palo Alto, United States
- Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys — Palo Alto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Yang — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Sun, Yang
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.