Zika-related glaucoma in infants
Role of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in glaucoma pathobiology
This project looks at whether exposure to Zika virus before birth can cause glaucoma and optic nerve damage in newborns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163518 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are examining how Zika infection during pregnancy might lead to increased eye pressure, loss of retinal ganglion cells, and optic nerve injury in babies. They use animal models (mouse offspring of infected mothers), laboratory tissue studies, and comparisons to clinical case reports to trace how infection leads to eye damage. The team is also studying how maternal or anti-flavivirus antibodies may worsen eye disease through antibody-dependent enhancement. Findings will be compared across lab and clinical data to identify steps that could be targeted for prevention or treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be infants known to have been exposed to Zika during pregnancy or families with infants who developed congenital glaucoma after maternal Zika infection.
Not a fit: People with typical adult-onset glaucoma unrelated to prenatal Zika exposure are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect, prevent, or better treat Zika-related glaucoma in infants.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and clinical case reports have linked prenatal Zika exposure to infant eye damage and glaucoma, so this project builds on existing evidence.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Pawan Kumar — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Singh, Pawan Kumar
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.