Project title: Neurovascular dysfunction along the visual pathway in glaucoma: interpericyte tunneling nanotubes, a new therapeutic target for vision loss.

Supervisor: Dr Luis Alarcon-Martinez and Dr Anna Wang

Email: luis.alarconmartinez@unimelb.edu.au

Suitable for: Honours, Masters and PhDs.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It is characterized by the death of retinal ganglion cells and their axons. Glaucoma is often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), also called ocular hypertension (OHT).

Currently, the only treatment strategy proven to reduce glaucoma progression is the reduction of IOP by drug intervention or surgery. However, vision loss continues in some people with glaucoma even with apparently adequate control of IOP.

The vascular theory of glaucoma suggests that inadequate blood supply contributes to neuron and optic nerve axon loss.

Visual Neurovascular Research

When our vision works correctly, light is picked up in the retina at the back of the eye and turned into electrical signals which are transmitted to the brain by millions of retinal ganglion cells.

To function properly, retinal ganglion cells require an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients from surrounding blood vessels. Inadequate blood supply can damage these cells and lead to vision loss.

Our visual neurovascular team aims to gain a better understanding of how exactly blood is distributed in the retina in order to prevent damage and pree sight.

The team uses cutting-edge two-photon microscopy to investigate the dynamics between retinal cells, blood vessels and very thin nanotubes that help cells communicate with one another.

The hope is to help develop strategies to prevent or treat retinal neurodegenerative diseases.