TARGET
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to progressive scarring and glaucoma surgery failure
IRAS ID
264320
Contact name
Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King’s College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
264320, REC
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Glaucoma blinds millions of people worldwide and is caused by high pressure in the eye. Studies have shown that with an adequate reduction in the eye pressure, the progression of glaucoma and irreversible blindness can be stopped. Although medical treatments are available, the most effective way to lower the eye pressure is through glaucoma surgery. However, glaucoma surgery has a high failure rate of 50% after 5 years and scarring is the main cause of failure of glaucoma surgery.
I will use new powerful technologies to understand why a large subgroup of patients develops severe scarring after glaucoma surgery and poor visual function. I will study and follow-up 200 patients after their first glaucoma surgery in detail over 18 months to identify the complex factors that cause scarring, and to look for markers that predict a high risk of scarring and surgical failure. I will compare the gene expression in patients who have developed scarring after glaucoma surgery and patients with no scarring and successful glaucoma surgery. This knowledge will also help us to develop more effective and safer anti-scarring treatments for patients in the future.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
19/WS/0146
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion