NEI Archives

COVID alters respiratory microbiota

Apr. 25, 2023—COVID-19 infection alters the microbes of the upper respiratory tract for at least several weeks, and such disturbances could impact disease severity and be targets for therapeutic interventions.

Inflammation implicated in exfoliation syndrome

Mar. 28, 2023—Computational genetics tools have implicated inflammatory pathways in exfoliation syndrome, the most common cause of secondary glaucoma, which can result in blindness.

Opening a window to glaucoma

Oct. 10, 2022—A metalloprotease enzyme plays an important role in retinal ganglion cell development, Vanderbilt researchers discovered; studying it and other family members may lead to the identification of novel targets for treating glaucoma.

Mitochondria and retinal degeneration

Aug. 15, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have developed a new cellular model for exploring mitochondrial dysfunction in age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 65.

New clue to lung scarring

May. 20, 2021—Vanderbilt neonatology team pinpoints signaling pathways involved in the progressive lung fibrosis that occurs in rare genetic diseases.

Insights on diabetic retinopathy

Jan. 23, 2020—A drug that targets multiple pathogenic steps in diabetic retinopathy may be an ideal therapeutic strategy for the disease, Vanderbilt researchers report.

Potassium balance and glaucoma

Jul. 15, 2019—Vanderbilt Eye Institute researchers have discovered that an imbalance in the ionic environment of retinal ganglion cells may contribute to functional impairments in glaucoma.

The arrestin-GPCR connection

Apr. 11, 2019—Understanding details of how arrestins deactivate signaling by G-protein coupled receptors is key to the design of new therapeutics aimed at these cellular "inboxes" that are targeted by up to half of all pharmaceuticals.

Novel methods to treat glaucoma

Nov. 8, 2018—Increasing a certain signaling molecule prevents the degeneration of retinal cells that are lost in glaucoma, suggesting a new way to treat this disease.

Cellular stress defense

Oct. 12, 2018—The modular architecture of small heat-shock proteins contributes to the ability of these proteins to aid cells in responding to stress.

Aqueous humor, microRNAs and glaucoma

Apr. 10, 2018—New findings highlight microRNAs — molecules that regulate gene expression — that are differentially expressed in glaucoma and could be candidate biomarkers or targets for therapy.