Luca Della Santina, Ph.D, Pharm.D, assistant professor at University of Houston College of Optometry, has been awarded a two-year $150,000 grant from the BrightFocus Foundation’s National Glaucoma Research Program. This highly competitive award supports Dr. Della Santina's research: “Using AI to Detect Loss of Connections Between Neural Cells in the Eye." 

Glaucoma remains a leading cause of blindness or vision loss, affecting approximately four million adults in the United States. Because the disease often presents no early symptoms, nearly half of those affected may not know it until vision loss is irreversible.

In glaucoma, the death of certain neurons in the retina, specifically the retinal ganglion cells, can lead to vision loss. Currently, the death of these cells is not equal across the retina, a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the back of the eye.

“The reason behind this is still largely unknown,” Dr. Della Santina said. “We propose to create new AI tools to investigate large portions of the retina and use them to assess how loss of neurons after ocular pressure elevation affects the ability of surviving neural cells to communicate with each other at connection points called synapses.”

BrightFocus currently supports 31 active glaucoma research grants worldwide, placing Dr. Della Santina’s studies among a selective effort focused on advancing earlier disease detection and diagnosis, developing more effective treatments, and deepening understanding of the underlying causes of glaucoma. Funding decisions are guided by scientific advisory committees composed of leading researchers in the field.

“At the University of Houston College of Optometry, we are shaping the future of vision science by innovation, collaboration, and discovery,” said Dean Michael Twa. “Leveraging artificial intelligence allows our students and researchers to ask bigger questions and uncover new insights that will advance what is possible in eye care.”