■ To combat the incidence of glaucoma, researchers at Augusta University in Georgia want to help the neurons in our eyes better protect themselves and get better help from their friends. The researchers are working to see whether agents that activate the innate neuron protector sigma 1 receptor, or S1R, can do both. Kathryn Bollinger, MD, ophthalmologist, glaucoma specialist, and retinal cell biologist, has evidence that a good additional strategy would be directly enhancing protection of neurons in our eyes, called retinal ganglion cells, hopefully by directly activating S1R.