Glaucoma cure may be found in newly discovered biomarkers
The study of biomarkers for glaucoma is pointing to promising avenues for new treatments, according to Vivek J. Srinivasan, PhD.
San Francisco-The study of biomarkers for glaucoma is pointing to promising avenues for new treatments, according to Vivek J. Srinivasan, PhD.
As part of their work for the Catalyst for a Cure Biomarker Initiative of the Glaucoma Research Foundation, Dr. Srinivasan and three other scientists have identified early warning signs that might allow them to intervene before vision loss occurs, and experimented with ways of regenerating ganglion retinal cells.
Dr. Srinivasan outlined this work here at the foundation’s Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum.
Dr. Srinivasan with Glaucoma Research Foundation President Thomas M. Brunner
“Our approach was to draw from the basic biology and use engineering to develop new tools to visualize these biomarkers, then use our clinical expertise to determine how best to use these to help patients in the clinic,” he said.
In addition to Dr. Srinivasan, an assistant professor of bioengineering at the University of California, Davis, the team includes :
- Andy Huberman, PhD, of the University of California, San Diego, an expert in the visual system and how it changes;
- Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, of Stanford University, a glaucoma specialist and retinal ganglion expert; and
- Alfredo Dubra, PhD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin, another biomedical engineer.
The team’s point of departure is that glaucoma occurs as a result of the dysfunction of retinal ganglion cells.
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“The real question for us is how do we measure this accurately and distinguish dysfunction from death, or dysfunction at a point where it’s treatable,” Dr. Srinivasan said.
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