August 2009: GDCB Professor Don Sakaguchi receives sponsored funding award from the NIH

Dr. Don Sakaguchi, professor of genetics, development and cell biology, was awarded $342,817 in sponsored funding from the National Institutes of Health for his research project entitled "Stem cell-mediated delivery of neurotrophic factors for treatment of glaucoma."

Funds were awarded for two years starting June 2009 and will be used to investigate the ability of neurotrophic growth factors delivered via genetically modified stem cell transplants into the eye to reduce the progression of damage and visual loss in an inducible rodent model of glaucoma (chronic ocular hypertension). The long-term objective of this research is to develop effective methods to restore visual function in animal models of glaucoma, and to minimize or halt the process of neuronal death due to ischemic or pressure related insult.