Understanding how glaucoma genes control eye cell function
Official title: Uncovering novel biological processes and pathogenic mechanisms for glaucoma
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11450761 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term research project will study how genetic factors affect eye cells in adults with glaucoma to uncover new ideas for protecting vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,139 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY031424-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450761 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with glaucoma-related biology or those contributing eye tissue samples postmortem for research.
✕Less likely to help
The study does not involve direct patient treatment or immediate clinical interventions.
What this research studies
This project looks at how genetic differences influence gene regulation in eye tissues important to glaucoma, using human donor eyes and advanced sequencing. Researchers will map how open chromatin and RNA processing differ across eye tissues to pinpoint mechanisms behind retinal nerve damage. The study uses ATAC-seq and RNA sequencing to connect genetic variation with changes in gene activity in glaucoma-related tissues. Results could point to new targets for neuroprotection in patients with POAG or NTG.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of glaucoma biology could lead to new approaches to protect vision and inform personalized treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked genetic variation to gene regulation in eye tissues; this study extends those findings with deeper tissue-specific data.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segre, Ayellet Vered — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Segre, Ayellet Vered
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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.