Understanding cell stress and cell cleanup in glaucoma
Crosstalk between chronic ER stress and mitophagy for the treatment of POAG
This research explores how cell stress and the cell's natural cleanup process contribute to glaucoma, aiming to find new ways to help patients with this eye condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a common eye condition that can lead to permanent vision loss. This happens when the eye's drainage system, called the trabecular meshwork (TM), doesn't work properly, causing pressure inside the eye to rise. Our work suggests that ongoing stress within the cells (ER stress) and problems with the cell's natural cleanup process (mitophagy) might be key reasons why TM cells become damaged. We are looking closely at how these cellular processes go wrong in glaucoma to better understand the disease. Ultimately, we hope this knowledge will lead to new and effective treatments to protect vision.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) who are interested in understanding the underlying causes of their condition and potential future treatments.
Not a fit: Patients without Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that target cellular stress and cleanup pathways to prevent vision loss in people with glaucoma.
How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have linked ER stress to glaucoma, this research explores a novel connection with cellular cleanup processes (mitophagy) to identify new treatment targets.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zode, Gulab — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Zode, Gulab
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.