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Australian neurodegeneration researchers have received a $750,000 grant to further investigate links between changes in mitochondrial DNA and optic nerve diseases.
Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) Associate Professor Ian Trounce, who leads the institute’s neurodegeneration unit, was recently awarded National Health and Medical Research Council funding to undertake the research over four years. The study will determine if mitochondrial gene changes contribute to impaired mitochondrial function in 1,000 Australian patients with glaucoma – the most common form of optic nerve disease.
“If true, we may define a sub-group of glaucoma subjects with mitochondrial DNA markers where entirely new approaches to slowing vision loss can be developed,” he said, pointing out that not all glaucoma cases were associated with increased intraocular pressure.
Trounce’s previous research has shown that faulty mitochondria – which are maternally inherited – plays a key role in the development of diseases where the optic nerve is damaged.
“We have new evidence that the energy generating cellular power-packs, the mitochondria, are defective in glaucoma,” Trounce said.
“If we could boost the energy levels in the cells just a little bit, it might make all the difference for someone with glaucoma and help them keep their vision.”
In other news, CERA research student Dr William Yan was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Futures Scholarship to study at the world-renowned Stanford University in the US. The funding will allow him to further advance his interests in ophthalmology, healthcare innovation and health informatics.
Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine hope to develop new glaucoma therapies by testing human neurons and a regenerative therapy to rescue dying visual neurons. They’ve received a new five year, US$2 million grant from the National Eye Institute for the project.
People of African ancestry are five times as likely as others to develop glaucoma and up to 15 times as likely to be blinded by the condition, but most research has used data from people of European ancestry.
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