The Lasker/IRRF Initiative
for Innovation in Vision Science

Astrocytes and Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration > Download the report A hard copy of the report is available by request to kchapman@laskerfoundation.org.

Degenerative diseases of the retina are devastating conditions leading to severe visual impairment and blindness; their causes and paths of treatment have long evaded scientists.

The Lasker Foundation and the International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) have joined in a decade-long partnership entitled the Initiative for Innovation in Vision Science, to identify knowledge gaps in research and apply innovative solutions to retinal diseases. The Initiative's goal is to accelerate discovery of sight-saving treatments and ways to prevent retinal degenerative diseases using novel scientific, engineering and technological approaches.

Glaucoma is often called the sneak thief of vision because it can develop without obvious symptoms. Whereas certain risk factors are apparent—high intraocular pressure and age—exactly how these risk factors contribute to the disease is by no means clear. The Initiative's first program, launched in 2009, explored the dual role of astrocytes in glaucoma. Astrocytes are cells which perform many functions to maintain healthy optic nerve tissue but which have also been implicated in playing a negative role in glaucomatous degenerative disease.

The August 2009 workshop of the Initiative's Astrocytes and Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration. CREDIT: Milos Pekny

The Initiative convened two workshops with experts in diseases of the retina and glaucoma, as well as bench and clinical scientists with expertise in a number of complementary fields and whose combined skills, knowledge and experience could point the way toward an understanding and eventual cure of this disease. Participants identified and refined the main unsolved questions, as well as important areas for further glaucoma research which may now be experimentally addressed using modern techniques.

In March 2010, workshop participants and other scientists with expertise that could fill additional knowledge gaps met and outlined a plan of potential studies to surmount hurdles that have hindered progress in this field. Astrocytes and Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration, a report published by the Initiative in November 2010, summarizes this comprehensive examination of how astrocytes function in health and disease. The report also articulates the challenges to better understanding how astrocytes may play a key role in glaucoma, and outlines innovative approaches that could advance new methods to diagnose, treat and even prevent this devastating and intractable disease.

In addition to mapping ways to understand the role of astrocytes in glaucoma and neurodegenerative disease, the report serves as an important platform on which to launch new collaborative research efforts to further our understanding and response to not only glaucoma, but a myriad of other poorly-understood conditions.

The Initiative is now engaged in its second program, focused on research issues and opportunities in diabetic retinopathy.

The objectives of this initiative are to take an in-depth look at diabetic retinopathy — what's known, what isn't known, what needs to be done, and what new approaches might profitably be undertaken to solve some of the issues.  At two workshops during the summer of 2011, scientists with expertise in a wide range of disciplines identified key hurdles to research progress in diabetes and its complications that will be further explored at a plenary session scheduled for March 2012.  Each of these issues will be focused on in small groups; a plan will be developed to identify innovative research approaches and projects that can accelerate better methods to more effectively treat, or possibly prevent, diabetic complications, particularly retinopathy.  The goal is to achieve a blueprint of how the field might profitably move forward.