Dr Shan's project seeks to address the shortcomings of current glaucoma treatments, which slow but do not halt disease progression. The project aims to discover new treatment strategies by understanding how miR-17-92 cluster members affect intraocular pressure (IOP). The study will investigate the interaction between specific miRNAs in the miR-17-92 cluster and a target protein identified in glaucoma models, which increases IOP. The research is expected to provide a foundation for developing drugs to lower IOP and slow or halt glaucoma progression.
The Shaffer Research Grants for Innovative Glaucoma Research are awarded to scientists and clinicians to fund projects that support new high-impact clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory research. These projects aim to meet the strategic research goals for combating glaucoma, focusing on the physiology and genetics of the disease.
For more information, please visit: https://glaucoma.org/research/shaffer-research-grants/