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Several years ago, the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) expanded its initiative to advance glaucoma research through a collaborative approach by creating a second Catalyst for a Cure research team.
The four principal investigators of the Catalyst for a Cure Biomarker Initiative-Alfredo Dubra, PhD; Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD; Andrew D. Huberman, PhD; and Vivek J. Srinivasan, PhD-outline the details behind their research. (Video courtesy of Glaucoma Research Foundation)
San Francisco-Several years ago, the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) expanded its initiative to advance glaucoma research through a collaborative approach by creating a second Catalyst for a Cure research team.
The new group was charged with finding biomarkers for the earliest pathologic events in glaucoma onset and progression. At the Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala last night, the four principal scientists in the Catalyst for Cure Biomarker Initiative updated attendees on their progress.
The principal investigators of the consortium are:
The consortium of research labs has identified a series of targets for glaucoma biomarkers. In addition, the group has built a series of novel instruments for imaging the retina noninvasively. The instruments will be used to measure and test the new biomarker targets.
The labs are highly collaborative, combining expertise in state-of-the-art imaging, cellular and molecular biology, and clinical glaucoma, applying their expertise toward biomarker discovery. The direct goal of the group is to improve patient care.
The major highlights of the group’s research efforts include:
The Catalyst for a Cure team has developed the translational pipeline to reap the biomarker discovery benefits of these tools over the coming years. Together, one or more of these approaches may yield highly sensitive biomarkers for glaucoma detection and progression, and provide a sensitive means to monitor treatment efficacy.
The team will continue to work toward validation of these targets and technologies in animals, and toward a rapid translation into human testing.
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