Award
National Eye Institute 5R01EY032519-05
The role of optic nerve lamina region stem cells in age-related optic nerve disease
Recipient
University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Award Amount
$433,465.00
Ceiling
$433,465.00
Awarded
July 01, 2026
Identifier
5R01EY032519-05
Research project funded by the National Eye Institute to study optic nerve lamina region stem cells and their role in protecting retinal ganglion cells from age-related optic nerve diseases, aiming to develop new treatments.
Description
This project will determine whether the newly discovered optic nerve laminar region- Neural progenitor cells (ONLR-NPCs) directly protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from axonal ischemic stress, whether their loss increases RGC stress, and whether they partially effect their neuroprotective action through secreted extracellular vesicles. The study will use a mouse transgenic model enabling selective ONLR-NPC depletion, the rodent model of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rNAION) in both mice and rats, and cell culture techniques. The research aims to identify factors contributing to RGC stress and disease resistance, and to develop improved treatments for optic nerve diseases.