Over the next four years, Pete Williams' research group will develop protective treatments for the nerve cells that are broken down in glaucoma and other eye diseases, focusing on the metabolism of the NAD, an important metabolite for the health of the neuron.
Preventing NAD depletion via administration of nicotinamide robustly prevents glaucoma in animal models. They also demonstrated that elevating NAD levels through nicotinamide administration can improve visual function in existing glaucoma patients.
– This research programme is the next exciting step to develop novel drug and gene therapies based on our earlier NAD research, says Pete Williams.