Targeting Neuroserpin-plasmin Interactions To Protect The Retina In Glaucoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$648,965.00
Summary
Glaucoma causes blindness and despite our best treatment many patients continue to progress. A new approach is needed to protect the cells that die in the retina. We have established that a common protease – plasmin – is involved in the process, and a protein that normally regulates it – neuroserpin – is downregulated in the disease. We aim to modify neuroserpin using an ocular gene therapy approach and show it could be used as a novel therapy in glaucoma.
Saving The Optic Nerve : Manipulating The Shp2-Caveolin Axis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,395.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness with many patients experiencing progressive vision loss despite treatment. We propose to use gene therapy techniques to manipulate the signalling pathway of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and its receptor, along with biochemical and functional approaches to understand the mechanisms of glaucoma mediated eye damage and to develop new therapeutic strategies.
Glaucoma Causes Secondary Neurodegeneration In The Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,891.00
Summary
Glaucoma is one of the commonest causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The optic nerve have been considered as the primary site of glaucomatous damage. However, recent evidence suggests that glaucoma may not merely be an eye disease, because secondary changes have also been observed in the higher visual centres in glaucoma patients. In this proposed study, topographically related degeneration along the visual pathway will be monitored using advanced MRI technology.