Understanding Eye and Brain Pressure in Glaucoma
Official title: IOP and Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure-related Risk Factors for Glaucoma
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11099939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to better understand how pressure inside the eye and around the brain contributes to glaucoma and vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2015 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $570,099 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY026035-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals aged 21 and older who have glaucoma or are at risk for the condition may be relevant to future stages of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glaucoma or related eye conditions would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Glaucoma is a leading cause of permanent vision loss, but we don't fully understand how it damages the optic nerve. This project explores how the pressure inside your eye (IOP) and the fluid pressure around your brain (CSFP) interact at the optic nerve head. Researchers believe that the balance between these pressures, called translaminar pressure, plays a key role in nerve damage. By studying these pressures and the structure of the optic nerve, we hope to uncover why some people develop glaucoma and others do not, even with similar eye pressures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify individuals at higher risk for glaucoma and develop more personalized treatments to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical studies have suggested a link between cerebrospinal fluid pressure and glaucoma risk, but this research aims to overcome limitations in prior measurements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Downs, J Crawford — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Downs, J Crawford
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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.