WDR36 Variants and p53 in Glaucoma
Official title: The Impact of WDR36 Variants and p53 in Glaucoma
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11449005 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how genetic changes in WDR36 and the p53 pathway contribute to glaucoma and whether gene-based approaches could protect eye cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $662,682 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY037749-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449005 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with or at risk for primary open angle glaucoma, particularly those carrying WDR36 variants.
✕Less likely to help
People without glaucoma risk factors or WDR36 variants may be less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss, especially as people age. The project uses a mouse model and human stem cell-derived retinal cells to explore how WDR36 variants affect retinal ganglion cells and whether boosting WDR36 can reduce cell death driven by p53 during aging and high eye pressure. It focuses on ribosome assembly and the p53-MDM2 pathway to understand disease mechanisms and risk. The work aims to identify when and how gene augmentation might help prevent or slow vision loss in patients with these genetic changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new genetic or cell-based strategies to protect retinal cells and slow glaucoma progression in people with WDR36-related risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows gene- and cell-based approaches can modulate retinal cell survival in glaucoma-relevant models, though human translation is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ross, Ahmara G. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Ross, Ahmara G.
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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.