Understanding genetic and environmental factors affecting vision problems in veterans
Official title: Deciphering Genetic and Environmental Influences on Visual Disorders in the Million Veteran Program
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11171323 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how genes and the environment affect common eye problems like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in veterans, using information from a large group of over 616,000 veterans to help improve care for these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2019 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004557-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171323 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans, particularly those of European-American, African-American, or Hispanic-American descent, who are experiencing age-related eye conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not veterans or do not have age-related eye conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the genetic and environmental influences on various age-related eye conditions that are common among veterans, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. By utilizing data from the Million Veteran Program, which includes genetic information from over 616,000 veterans, the study aims to identify specific genetic variants associated with these conditions. The research employs advanced algorithms to differentiate between veterans with and without these eye disorders, allowing for targeted genome-wide association studies across different ethnic groups. This approach seeks to enhance our understanding of how these conditions develop and progress, ultimately aiming to improve patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for age-related visual disorders in veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in identifying genetic factors related to age-related macular degeneration, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for other visual disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peachey, Neal S. — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Peachey, Neal S.
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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.