Age-related cataractogenesis is one of the most common chronic disorders of aging and one of the world's leading causes of blindness. Currently, there are no preventative measures available to combat cataracts, only surgical removal of the lens. Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have identified a novel protein from the serum of a cataracts patient, LEDP 132 (Lens Epithelial Derived Protein 132). LEDP 132 is localized to the ER, golgi and membrane vesicles of the lens, as well as in the liver, lung, heart and brain. LEDP 132 may play a role in intracellular trafficking and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis as well as preventing ER stress. Further investigation of the role of LEDP 132 may lead to its use as a biomarker of cataracts or a therapeutic target as a disease intervention.