Upgrading lab equipment to better stretch eye drainage cells
Replacement of the Flexcell Tension system
['FUNDING_R01'] · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · NIH-11308862
This project upgrades lab gear so scientists can study how pressure, stretch, and stiffness change the eye cells involved in glaucoma.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11308862 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will replace an older cell-stretching bioreactor with a newer Flexcell system that can apply different kinds of stretch to many samples at once and work in 3D environments. They will use the machine to mimic pressure, shear, and strain on trabecular meshwork cells, the cells that help drain fluid from the eye, and compare healthy versus glaucomatous cells. The team will combine electrical measurements, optical imaging, and molecular tests to see how the surrounding matrix and the signaling protein TGF-beta trigger mechanosensitive channels and fibrotic remodeling. Better equipment should speed experiments, improve data quality, and help pinpoint how mechanical forces lead to scarring that harms eye function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who might donate eye tissue or be interested in future clinical studies that build on these lab findings.
Not a fit: Patients without glaucoma or those seeking immediate treatment for vision loss are unlikely to see direct benefits from this equipment upgrade.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how mechanical stress and tissue stiffening drive glaucoma-related scarring and point to new targets to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown that matrix stiffness and TGF-beta influence trabecular meshwork cells, but translating those findings into therapies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES
- UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH — SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KRIZAJ, DAVID — UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- Study coordinator: KRIZAJ, DAVID
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.