NIH R01 · 2025
Optic nerve head astrocyte sensitivity to glaucomatous insult
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for optic nerve damage in glaucoma. Perplexingly, optic nerve sensitivity to IOP varies widely across individuals. The overarching goal of this proposal is to investigate fundamental mechanisms that drive optic nerve sensitivity to IOP. IOP elevation induces pathologic biomechanical strains on the optic nerve head (ONH). Our previous work identified astrocytes within the ONH as key sensors of IOP-related biomechanical strain. We recently engineered a 3D hydrogel system to precisely quantify the response of ONH astrocytes to pathologic biomechanical strains. Our preliminary data using this innovative system…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.