Therapy to protect and restore nerve cells in glaucoma
Therapeutic intervention to target human glaucoma pathogenesis
['FUNDING_R01'] · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · NIH-11243512
Testing a treatment using a human protein called Neuritin 1 to help people with glaucoma protect and regrow the eye nerve cells that carry vision.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11243512 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have glaucoma, this project aims to develop a treatment based on the human protein Neuritin 1 to protect and repair retinal ganglion cells (the nerve cells that transmit vision). Researchers will apply Neuritin 1 to retinal tissue from donated human eyes and use an ex vivo perfusion model that can mimic normal and elevated pressures seen in glaucoma. The team will compare effects on cells under both normal and high translaminar pressure to see if the therapy is neuroprotective or regenerative. Positive lab results would support moving this approach toward future patient-specific clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with glaucoma—especially those whose vision is worsening despite treatments to lower eye pressure—would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without glaucoma or whose vision loss is due to non-neurodegenerative causes, and those with very advanced optic nerve damage, are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could protect retinal nerve cells and encourage regrowth, potentially slowing or reversing vision loss from glaucoma.
How similar studies have performed: Related neurotrophic approaches have shown promise in laboratory and animal models, but applying Neuritin 1 to human eye tissue and translating it to people is still early and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SHARMA, TASNEEM PUTLIWALA — INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- Study coordinator: SHARMA, TASNEEM PUTLIWALA
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.