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.
Seeing Clearly: Examining The Consequences Of Glaucoma For The Human Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,694.00
Summary
Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness. Many people are unaware of the resulting blind region (scotoma) and fail to get an eye test, allowing the disease to progress. This project aims to see how the brain ‘fills in’ the scotoma, and the effect of different scotoma types, using vision tests, brain imaging, and behavioural methods. The results will tell us whether the region around a scotoma helps or hinders the person's remaining vision, which is critical for activities such as driving.