Regulatory mechanisms in the episcleral circulation
Sprache der Bezeichnung:
Englisch
Original Kurzfassung:
Wider research context
Intraocular pressure is the most important risk factor for glaucoma and the only therapeutic target with proven efficacy. Episcleral venous pressure accounts for more than 50% of intraocular pressure, yet it is still poorly understood. This knowledge gap is of high clinical significance. Modern minimally invasive glaucoma surgery procedures have shown great promise in ex-vivo models, but the clinical IOP lowering effects are modest. These procedures commonly bypass the trabecular meshwork resistance but IOP remains dependent on episcleral venous pressure. Active vascular regulation may be the cause for this impairment in clinical efficacy. Thus, this proposal seeks to investigate regulatory mechanisms in the episcleral circulation to enhance glaucoma therapy.
Objectives
The project has the following objectives: a) to understand the physiology of episcleral venous pressure regulation, especially after trabecular bypass surgery, b) to create a dynamic systems model of the episcleral circulation and c) to identify drug targets to alter episcleral venous pressure.
Forschungs-