National Glaucoma Awareness Month: Jackson Scientists Fight Glaucoma, Serve Research Community
| Date: January 17, 2005 | 
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Bar Harbor, Maine – January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. But all year long, scientists at The Jackson Laboratory contribute to the fight against eye-related disorders such as glaucoma through the studies they conduct at the nonprofit genetics research institute and the resources they provide to the worldwide scientific community.
In 2004, Jackson Laboratory Staff Scientist Dr. Simon John – a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Associate Investigator – received awards from both the New York Academy of Medicine and the Association for Research in Vision Ophthalmology for his important contributions to the development, analysis, and use of mouse models for genetic and therapeutic studies of glaucoma.
Typically associated with intraocular pressure, glaucoma can damage the optic nerve and lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. Dr. John and his research team conduct multidisciplinary research in genetics, physiology, neurobiology, and developmental biology to help identify the genes and cellular mechanisms that underlie both congenital and adult forms of glaucoma.
While studying a mouse model of inherited glaucoma, Dr. John’s team discovered a gene mutation that worsens the malformation of eye drainage structures causing this type of glaucoma. This mutation affects the production of L-DOPA – a molecule that affects the nervous system. Treatment of pregnant mice with L-DOPA prevented the worsening of this malformation, suggesting that it may be feasible to prevent inherited glaucoma in humans through administration of L-DOPA.
Along with members of his laboratory, including Dr. Richard Smith, an ophthalmologist and Jackson Laboratory Research Scientist, Dr. John studies vision disorders such as age-related macular degeneration and ocular vascular disease that together with glaucoma, are among the leading causes of blindness in both children and the elderly.
The Jackson Laboratory is also the international source for mouse models of eye diseases and presents scientific courses on the mouse in vision research.
January is designated National Glaucoma Awareness Month by Prevent Blindness America. Dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, Prevent Blindness America is the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization.
With more than 1,300 employees and an FY05 operating budget of $130.1 million, the nonprofit, 75-year-old Jackson Laboratory is one of Maine's largest employers. Its research staff of more than 465 investigates the genetic basis of cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, diabetes, and many other human diseases and disorders. The Laboratory is also home of the Mouse Genome Database and many other publicly available information resources, and is also an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training and education-including programs for Maine high school, college, and graduate students.
Contact(s):
Jade Harmer, 207-288-6051, jade@jax.org
Joyce Peterson, 207-288-6058, joyce@jax.org
For information on automatic email delivery of news releases (journalists only), please send an email request for details to news@jax.org.
Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6051
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org
