Structural and Functional Characterization of a Novel Model for Glaucoma Research

项目描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的基本目标是建立一个微小的、自发的、遗传的猫模型，用于人类青光眼的研究。已经建立了一个可行的繁殖群体，我们已经确定这种形式的猫青光眼是一种常染色体隐性遗传性状。本提案概述了一项为期五年的计划，以进行严格的临床，功能和形态学表征原发性青光眼在这个家系猫。在项目的前3年，将通过非侵入性手段（包括血压计、高分辨率超声检查、荧光光度法、光学相干断层扫描和电生理学）以及视网膜和视神经病理学的组织形态学评估对一组猫进行纵向评估，以表征疾病进展的自然史并建立结构功能相关性。在项目的最后几年，我们将开始在进一步的猫队列中检查眼压降低作为疾病进展的神经保护治疗策略的结果。本研究结果将为青光眼复杂的病理生理基础提供线索

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The fundamental goal of this project is to establish a hovel, spontaneous, inherited feline model for human glaucoma research. A viable breeding colony has been established and we have determined that this form of feline glaucoma is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This proposal outlines a five-year plan to conduct rigorous clinical, functional and morphological characterization of primary glaucoma within this pedigree of cats. Over the first 3 years of the project, a cohort of cats will be evaluated longitudinally by both non-invasive means (including tonometry, high resolution ultrasonography, fluorophotometry, optical coherence tomography and electrophysiology) and by histomorphological evaluation of retinal and optic nerve pathology, in order to characterize the natural history of disease progression and establish structure function correlations. In the final years of the project we will begin to examine the outcomes of intraocular pressure-lowering as a neuroprotective treatment strategy on disease progression in a further cohort of cats. Results of the proposed studies will provide clues as to the complex patho-physiological basis of glaucoma and will address a number of key research priorities of the NEI's research program in glaucoma and optic neuropathies. The candidate of this proposal is a veterinarian with prior clinical and PhD training in the field of comparative ophthalmology. This research project will provide a framework for a training program, under the mentorship of leading researchers in their respective fields, which will afford the candidate the opportunity to gain new laboratory research skills as well as further training in the ethical, responsible and efficient conduct of research. The proposed training program will provide the candidate with a strong background in glaucoma research and serve as the foundation for a career as an academic veterinary clinician and independent researcher. Glaucoma is an important cause of vision loss in the human population. The development of effective treatment strategies for glaucoma patients is currently hampered by a lack of accessible, well-characterized, large animal models. Once characterized, this model will represent a valuable resource for other investigators and will facilitate the translation of laboratory research findings into new clinical strategies for the early detection and more effective treatment of this disabling disease in human patients.