Macular Degeneration Research - Current Awards Ashwath Jayagopal, Ph.D.Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Eye Institute Title: In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Neovascular AMD Summary: Dr. Ashwath Jayagopal and colleagues are focusing on developing nanoscale imaging agents capable of detecting AMD biomarkers of early choroidal neovascularization (the damaging invasion of blood vessels into the retina). With this imaging technique, clinicians would be able to better treat AMD patients through enhanced early detection, staging of disease, and monitoring of therapeutic response. Furthermore, this strategy could enable detailed imaging and target discovery in AMD preclinical and clinical studies. Program: Macular Degeneration  Bruce Ksander, Ph.D.The Schepens Eye Research Institute Title: NALP3 Activation Triggers Development of AMD Summary: Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) causes loss of vision and blindness in elderly patients when two types of cells are damaged (i) RPE (called retinal pigment epithelial cells), and (ii) photoreceptors. We discovered a gene (called NALP3) is expressed in retinal cells during development of AMD. We predict this gene is important in triggering
this disease via the activation of localized inflammation. Program: Macular Degeneration  Wei Li, Ph.D.University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine Title: Anti-Retinal Autoantibodies As AMD Biomarkers Summary: New biomarker detection techniques could improve early diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is important for early treatment to delay or reduce disease severity. Dr. Wei Li and colleagues will systematically identify the levels and identities of various “anti-retinal autoantibodies,” particular types of biomarkers that are found in AMD patients’ blood. These special types of self-reacting antibodies previously have been detected in AMD patient blood, but identifying a signature or fingerprint map of the complete autoantibody profile could potentially be used for early diagnosis of AMD. Program: Macular Degeneration  Wei Liu, Ph.D.Albert Einstein College of Medicine Title: Efficient Differentiation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from hESC Summary: Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are damaged in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), so Dr. Wei Liu and colleagues aim to efficiently generate RPE cells from the H1 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) cultures by adding active regulatory molecules to the cell-culture medium. This program is based on the recent findings that these active regulatory molecules promote embryonic RPE development. The team plans to develop a more efficient protocol for the generation of RPE cells for a future stem cell-based strategy in treating AMD. Program: Macular Degeneration  Vinit B. Mahajan, M.D., Ph.D.University of Iowa Title: Cytokine Signaling in the Foveal Choroid in AMD Co-PI(s):
Jessica Skeie, Ph.D.
University of Iowa Summary: Cytokines are important proteins that cause inflammation and bleeding in age-related macular degeneration. We will use protein analysis methods to identify cytokines and their downstream signals that are highly expressed in the retina that is most susceptible to macular degeneration. Program: Macular Degeneration  Haoyu Mao, Ph.D.University of Florida Title: Treatment of Retinal Degeneration in a Mouse Model for Dry AMD Summary: Currently, there is no effective treatment for the early form of AMD, called dry AMD. Therefore, Dr. Haoyu Mao and colleagues aim to develop a new treatment for dry AMD by testing whether specific drugs can protect the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from succumbing to oxidative stress. Program: Macular Degeneration  Brian McKay, Ph.D.University of Arizona Title: OA1 Signaling and AMD Summary: The studies proposed in this application investigate a molecular pathway in the retinal pigmented epithelium, RPE, that governs neurotrophic factor production. Activation of OA1 signaling is a valid and potentially import target for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment. Data that support the hypothesis of this proposal will have the effect of illustrating a new and important treatment route for AMD. Program: Macular Degeneration  Anne Messer, Ph.D.Wadsworth Center Title: Anti-Drusen Nanobodies for AMD Summary: Drusen develop as yellow deposits under the retina and are considered to be hallmarks of age-related macular degeneration; this proposal utilizes cutting-edge recombinant antibody technologies to develop novel anti-drusen “nanobody” molecules that have the potential to serve as direct therapeutics and/or drug discovery tools for AMD. Nanobodies can be selected, engineered, and manipulated as genes, then delivered as either genes or proteins to modulate drusen. Since similar reagents are already in human clinical trials for other abnormal protein diseases, translation to clinical ophthalmology is highly feasible. Program: Macular Degeneration  Matthew A. Nugent, Ph.D.Boston University School of Medicine Title: VEGF-Extracellular Matrix Interactions in Choroidal Neovascularization Summary: Excess vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates blood vessel growth, has been shown to be a major cause of unwanted vessel growth into the retina in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Dr. Matthew Nugent and colleagues propose to identify new ways that VEGF activity is naturally controlled by interactions with the protein fibronectin, so that this pathway can be targeted for a more effective treatment for wet AMD. Program: Macular Degeneration  Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Ph.D.University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Title: Whole Exome Sequencing in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Co-PI(s):
William Scott, Ph.D.
University of Miami Summary: Despite recent success finding common genetic variations that influence risk of developing AMD, many causes remain to be identified. One under-studied area is the role of rare genetic variation in determining risk of developing AMD, and recent technological advances have enabled large-scale DNA sequencing efforts to find these rare variations. We seek to understand the role of rare genetic variations in determining risk for AMD by examining a set of individuals with advanced AMD but none of the known genetic risk factors, and a set of individuals without AMD at an older age despite having one or more of the known genetic factors. Program: Macular Degeneration
Last Review: 04/29/13 |
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