Events

AEVR Congressional Briefing Focuses on Genetic Basis of Glaucoma

 

Featured speaker Louis R. Pasquale, MD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital)
Featured speaker Louis R. Pasquale, MD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital)

On March 6, AEVR held its World Glaucoma Week 2019 Congressional Briefing, co-hosted by all major glaucoma societies and research organizations (see box below). Entitled Understanding the Genetic Basis of Glaucoma to Develop Vision Loss Strategies, the event featured National Eye Institute (NEI)-funded clinician-scientist Louis R. Pasquale, MD, who serves as a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and Vice Chair of Translational Ophthalmology Research for the Mount Sinai Healthcare System.

He characterized glaucoma, which is the second leading cause of preventable vision loss in the United States, as a complex neurological disease affecting the optic nerve resulting in loss of both peripheral and paracentral vision and ultimately blindness. Certain characteristics such as age, ethnicity, and high intraocular pressure (IOP) are associated with disease development. Groups at highest risk include African Americans over age 40, individuals over age 60, and those with a family history of the disease. In its most common form-primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), which affects more than 64 million people worldwide, nerve damage results from high IOP, which occurs when the fluid that circulates in and out of the front part of the eye drains inadequately. Additionally, factors aside from elevated eye pressure, such as dysregulated optic nerve blood flow and low intracranial pressure, are also being pursued as possible causes of glaucoma. NEI-funded research has resulted in several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pressure-reducing drug therapies, which have been found by the NEI-sponsored Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) to delay disease onset. In addition to drug regimens, glaucoma is also treated through traditional and minimally invasive surgical techniques—many including the use of FDA-approved drainage devices to enhance aqueous humor outflow from the eye to reduce IOP.

Dr. Pasquale participates in NEI's Glaucoma Human Genetics Collaboration (NEIGHBOR) Consortium and the Glaucoma Gene and Environment Initiative (GLAUGEN) Study. These collaborative efforts, under the umbrella of a larger consortium called NEIGHBORHOOD (The NEIGHBOR Heritable Overall Operational Database), involves clinicians and geneticists at multiple institutions throughout the United States whose goal is to identify genetic variants associated with POAG in the largest and most thoroughly characterized population of people with known glaucoma status. Through mid-2018, NEIGHBORHOOD in collaboration with other large consortia throughout the world, has identified 133 genetic variants that predict within 75 percent accuracy a person's risk for developing primary open-angle glaucoma. As Dr. Pasquale noted, Of course, more work is needed to improve this accuracy rate. But it is remarkable that recently completed research found an almost direct correlation between the magnitude of the genetic variants effect on eye pressure and their effect on glaucoma risk, confirming that IOP is an important factor that determines whether someone develops glaucoma.”

Among the 133 gene variants identified associated with glaucoma risk, 68 had not been previously linked to IOP, and their loci point to cellular process, such as lipid metabolism and nitric oxide signaling, that contribute to elevated pressure. Dr. Pasquale then spoke in depth about the cellular processes, biomedical mechanisms, and metabolic pathways that not only result in elevated IOP but increase the vulnerability of the optic nerve to resulting damage. Through understanding the genetic basis of glaucoma and these concomitant pathways involved, clinicians would move even closer to making an earlier diagnosis of POAG. Furthermore, since no current treatment paradigm completely stops POAG, this genomic research may also lead to neuroprotection strategies that could potentially halt disease progression.

Dr. Pasquale concluded by commenting that, Since I last spoke on Capitol Hill in 2014, I am pleased to report that the NEI-funded NEIGHBORHOOD Consortium has greatly expanded our understanding of the genetic basis of POAG, and that research into the associated metabolic pathways is moving us further to an earlier diagnosis of the disease and the development of effective therapies to stop its progression.”

 

About World Glaucoma Week 2019…
The first World Glaucoma Day was held on March 6, 2008, and the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 981, which recognized the event and supported the NEI's efforts to research the causes of and treatments for glaucoma. Since 2010, the day has expanded into a week of educational events held worldwide, with all major glaucoma professional societies and research organizations co-sponsoring AEVR's 2019 event, including:

  • Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)
  • American Glaucoma Society (AGS)
  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
  • Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF)
  • Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS)

 

Dr. Pasquale with Shefa Gordon, PhD, Director of the NEI’s Office of Program Planning and Analysis
Dr. Pasquale with Shefa Gordon, PhD, Director of the NEI's Office of Program Planning and Analysis
Marisa Lavine (ARVO) with Dr. Pasquale, who serves as an ARVO Trustee representing the Glaucoma Section
Marisa Lavine (ARVO) with Dr. Pasquale, who serves as an ARVO Trustee representing the Glaucoma Section
Kevin Corcoran (Eye Bank Association of America) with Dr. Pasquale
Kevin Corcoran (Eye Bank Association of America) with Dr. Pasquale
Melissa Honohan (Allegan), left, and Sara Brown (Prevent Blindness) with Dr. Pasquale
Melissa Honohan (Allergan), left, and Sara Brown (Prevent Blindness) with Dr. Pasquale

In addition to speaking at the Briefing, Dr. Pasquale also visited his New York Congressional delegation in NAEVR-hosted visits.

Dr. Pasquale with Adeola Adesina, office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Dr. Pasquale with Adeola Adesina, office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Dr. Pasquale with Malikha Daniels, office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Dr. Pasquale with Malikha Daniels, office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)