Understanding immune signals in glaucoma to protect vision
Official title: Innate and Adaptive Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Glaucoma
Funded at Schepens Eye Research Institute · NIH-11390305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how immune cells in the eye contribute to glaucoma and whether targeting these signals could slow or prevent vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Schepens Eye Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $834,935 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY031696-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with glaucoma or at risk of glaucomatous neurodegeneration, along with access to relevant clinical tissue or ocular samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glaucoma or related neuroinflammatory eye conditions may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Glaucoma damages retinal cells due to chronic inflammation in the eye. The project investigates how microglia and T cells interact and drive a harmful inflammatory environment that worsens retinal damage. It aims to test whether a molecule called IGFBPL1 can modulate this immune crosstalk to protect retinal cells in glaucoma models. The work combines experiments in eye tissue and mouse models to uncover potential new therapies that could translate to patients with glaucoma. The goal is to identify immune-based strategies that could slow progression of vision loss in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that reduce inflammation and protect vision in people with glaucoma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that modulating microglial activity can influence retinal cell survival in glaucoma models; this study explores a new regulatory axis involving IGFBPL1.
Where this research is happening
-
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Dong Feng — Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Chen, Dong Feng
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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.