New research aims to develop novel therapeutic for glaucoma

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Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine will focus on providing a foundation for developing a new glaucoma therapeutic by testing human neurons and a regenerative therapy to rescue visual neurons from dying preclinically in human eyes under glaucoma conditions.

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A team of researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are using a novel approach to hopefully develop a new therapy for glaucoma, funded by a 5-year, $2 million R01 grant from the National Eye Institute.

“Glaucoma is a silent, underdiagnosed, costly and debilitating disease,” said Tasneem Sharma, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and lead investigator on the project. “It occurs when there is increased pressure within the eye and progressive death or neurons in the back of the eye. Current treatment options only include reducing elevated pressure in the eye, but these treatments only slow the disease rather than prevent it, so patients still progress toward vision loss.”

According to an Indiana University School of Medicine news release, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Vision Health Initiatives, more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 6.3 million. Glaucoma costs the U.S. economy about $2.86 billion each year in direct costs and productivity losses.¹

The university noted that Sharma’s project, called “Therapeutic Intervention to Target Human Glaucoma Pathogenesis,” will focus on providing a foundation for developing a new glaucoma therapeutic by testing human neurons and a regenerative therapy to rescue visual neurons from dying preclinically in human eyes under glaucoma conditions.¹

According to the news release, this is the first time that this combination has been used.

Sharma pointed out in the news release it is vital to identify therapies and develop new treatments for glaucoma that can save retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from neurodegeneration.

“This grant will be instrumental in spearheading our research on validating an innovative therapeutic strategy for glaucoma,’ Sharma added in the news release. “Our powerful tools and valuable stem cell resources will have enormous potential for breakthrough discovery. It will offer a foundation for deciphering survival and regeneration of RGCs due to glaucomatous neurodegeneration.”

Moreover, Sharma hopes the results of this research project will lead to new clinical trials for glaucoma patients to study the effectiveness of potential new treatments.