Background glaucoma Shape Background glaucoma Shape Background glaucoma Shape
Grants > Defining the Role of a New Protein Target in Fluid Buildup in Glaucoma Updated On: Ene. 21, 2025
National Glaucoma Research Grant

Defining the Role of a New Protein Target in Fluid Buildup in Glaucoma

Understanding What Causes Glaucoma
Rupalatha Maddala, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rupalatha Maddala, PhD

Duke University School of Medicine

Durham, NC, USA

About the Research Project

Program

National Glaucoma Research

Award Type

Standard

Award Amount

$200,000

Active Dates

July 01, 2023 - June 30, 2025

Grant ID

G2023008S

Co-Principal Investigator(s)

Vasantha Rao, PhD, Duke University School of Medicine

Pratap Challa, MD, Duke University School of Medicine

Goals

The goal of this project is to define the glaucoma-related role of an important protein in the eye’s fluid drainage system.

Summary

The eye’s drainage system for fluid is a spongy region called the trabecular meshwork. In glaucoma, dysfunction of this tiny drainage area can lead to fluid buildup, creating high pressure in the eye. Like other cells, trabecular network cells have an internal transportation system that must function properly for the tissue to do its job. Septins are proteins that contribute to the structure of this transportation system, and genetic studies have implicated septins in glaucoma.

Unique and Innovative

While the Septins are well-recognized as essential components of the cytoskeleton of vertebrates involved in regulation of various physiological activities, their role in trabecular meshwork biology and homeostasis of intraocular pressure is not known.

To connect these dots and identify potential treatment targets in glaucoma, Rupalatha Maddala, PhD, and her team plan to take a deep dive into the role of septins in trabecular meshwork regulation of fluid outflow and its potential role in fluid buildup in glaucoma.

Their project represents the first exploration of the potential role of septins in glaucoma. The team expects the findings to highlight specific features of septins and their role in fluid pressure in the eye that could be targets in glaucoma treatment.

Foreseeable Benefits

Elevated eye pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness globally. The novel studies planned in this proposal are expected to uncover the role of septins in aqueous humor drainage through the trabecular meshwork, and address whether pharmacological or molecular targeting of septins could be leveraged to modulate intraocular pressure for treatment of glaucoma.