David Calkins, Monica Vetter, Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, and Phillip Horner, four committed researchers from the organization, Catalyst for a Cure funded by the Glaucoma Research Foundation proudly dedicate their lives to finding a cure for this debilitating eye disease. They intend to do this by applying recent breakthroughs in neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics and immunology as well as the latest available technology in biology in order to gain insight into the causes of glaucoma.
The Glaucoma Research Foundation has donated more than 36 million dollars over the past thirty years to speed up the process of the discovery of a cure for glaucoma. The Foundation funded one of the first breakthroughs on the generic front, when Wallace L.M. Alward, MD at the University of Iowa, and his colleagues made the connection between glaucoma and an area of the chromosome called ‘chromosome 1?.
They later funded a group led by Jon R. Polansky, MD, in San Francisco, CA, that discovered that the TIGR protein was located in the same area of ‘chromosome 1? that the Iowa group was researching. Upon hearing this information, the scientists at the University of Iowa, led by Edwin A. Stone began to focus closer on the TIGR protein. They discovered that small changes in the DNA sequence (mutations) in this gene cause glaucoma and that this was the cause of most forms of glaucoma in babies and about five percent of adult onset of glaucoma. This, of course, brings us a step closer to finding a cure of glaucoma.
The Catalyst for a Cure researchers have found that the changes to the nervous system in the eye and the brain occur earlier than the disease appears probably even as the eye is developing. Their goal, to date, is to identify exactly what to target in the disease pathway with new drug or genetic therapies and exactly when in the disease process the therapies would be most effective.
They realize that the treatment for any disease is a huge task and that is why they have pledged their hearts and souls to the project. They believe that the innovative layout of their organization and the talent and dedication of the scientists it has brought together are their best hope to discovering a cure for the disease.
Until that glorious day when they find a definite cure of the disease, early detection of the disease and continuing treatment can preserve your eyesight. Depending on the type of glaucoma, treatment may include medication, usually prescription eye drops or surgery to lower the pressure in the eye and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. So we salute the dedication of the wonderful researchers at the Catalyst for a Cure as we await the day that they discover a cure for glaucoma.
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The Glaucoma Research Foundation has donated more than 36 million dollars over the past thirty years to speed up the process of the discovery of a cure for glaucoma. The Foundation funded one of the first breakthroughs on the generic front, when Wallace L.M. Alward, MD at the University of Iowa, and his colleagues made the connection between glaucoma and an area of the chromosome called ‘chromosome 1?.
They later funded a group led by Jon R. Polansky, MD, in San Francisco, CA, that discovered that the TIGR protein was located in the same area of ‘chromosome 1? that the Iowa group was researching. Upon hearing this information, the scientists at the University of Iowa, led by Edwin A. Stone began to focus closer on the TIGR protein. They discovered that small changes in the DNA sequence (mutations) in this gene cause glaucoma and that this was the cause of most forms of glaucoma in babies and about five percent of adult onset of glaucoma. This, of course, brings us a step closer to finding a cure of glaucoma.
The Catalyst for a Cure researchers have found that the changes to the nervous system in the eye and the brain occur earlier than the disease appears probably even as the eye is developing. Their goal, to date, is to identify exactly what to target in the disease pathway with new drug or genetic therapies and exactly when in the disease process the therapies would be most effective.
They realize that the treatment for any disease is a huge task and that is why they have pledged their hearts and souls to the project. They believe that the innovative layout of their organization and the talent and dedication of the scientists it has brought together are their best hope to discovering a cure for the disease.
Until that glorious day when they find a definite cure of the disease, early detection of the disease and continuing treatment can preserve your eyesight. Depending on the type of glaucoma, treatment may include medication, usually prescription eye drops or surgery to lower the pressure in the eye and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. So we salute the dedication of the wonderful researchers at the Catalyst for a Cure as we await the day that they discover a cure for glaucoma.
Want more boomer related medical news bytes? Sign onto Boomer Yearbook for daily updates.
www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers connect for fun and profit.
For www.boomeryearbook.com
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