SONIC-Glaucoma: Stimulation Of Neuroprotective & Immunomodulatory Cargos via Ultrasound in Glaucoma

Brief plain language background 

Glaucoma is a common eye condition that slowly damages the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It mainly affects retinal ganglion cells, which are vital for sending visual signals to the brain. As these cells die, vision is lost permanently, often leading to blindness. 

Although eye pressure can be lowered to slow the disease, there is currently no treatment that directly protects these nerve cells. Because glaucoma progresses slowly, future therapies need to be long-lasting, safe, and ideally non-invasive. 

Natural protective proteins in the body, called neurotrophic factors, have shown short-term benefits in early studies, but delivering them directly (such as by injection) is not practical over the long term. 

This project explores an exciting new idea: can we trigger the body to release its own natural protective factors, in the right place and at the right time, to protect vision more effectively? 

What problem/knowledge gap does it help address 

There is currently no treatment that stops or slows the nerve cell damage caused by glaucoma, only ways to manage risk factors like high eye pressure. Research has shown that natural proteins called growth factors, especially PDGF and BDNF, can protect the eye’s nerve cells and preserve vision. These protective proteins are stored in blood platelets and can be released inside tiny packages called exosomes. 

However, scientists still don’t know the best way to safely and effectively deliver these proteins to the eye over time. One exciting idea is to trigger the release of these protective exosomes using ultrasound, safe sound waves already used in pregnancy scans. 

This project aims to answer two key questions: Can we use ultrasound to release PDGF- and BDNF-rich exosomes from the blood? And can this approach protect the eye’s nerve cells and help prevent vision loss in people with glaucoma? 

Aim of the project 

To identify the ideal dose of protective exosomes rich in BDNF and PDGF, and the best ultrasound method to release them from platelets. We will then test whether this non-invasive ultrasound approach can trigger local release of therapeutic exosomes to protect vision in glaucoma. 

Potential impact on people with sight loss 

This project marks an important first step toward a non-invasive treatment for glaucoma that could one day be delivered at home or in optometry clinics. By using safe ultrasound to trigger the release of the body’s own protective factors, we aim to prevent further vision loss without injections or surgery. While not a cure, this approach, combined with current treatments like pressure-lowering drops and emerging options such as vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), could offer a powerful, long-term solution. With further research and development, benefits to patients could begin to emerge within 5-10 years.