Macular Degeneration Research - Current Award
Hendrik Scholl, M.D.
Wilmer Eye Institute
Baltimore, MD
Title: Structure-Function Correlation in Macular Degeneration
Non-Technical Title: Structure-Function Correlation in Macular Degeneration
Duration: April 1, 2010 - December 31, 2012
Award Type: Standard
Award Amount: $100,000
Summary:
This study may be the first methodology for an exact point-by-point structure-function correlation of pathology within the central retina. This diagnostic technology is extremely promising to establish new surrogate endpoints for clinical trials and for monitoring treatment effects on visual function with highest accuracy.
Details:
The human central retina, the macula, is both the anatomical structure responsible for fine detail vision and subject to disease causing irreversible blindness. Remarkable progress has been made in high-resolution imaging of the macula using new technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, the impact of retinal pathology detected by such high-resolution imaging on visual performance remains mostly uncertain.
To investigate the functional consequences of pathology detected by high-resolution retinal imaging data of visual function will be superimposed onto all topographic and tomographic images of the retina.
Selected morphological features will be validated and their applicability investigated as surrogate markers for future clinical trials in macular diseases.
This approach of an exact point-by-point structure-function correlation of pathology within the central retina may offer unique insights in macular disease mechanisms and may offer a perfect monitoring tool for any type of therapeutic intervention in macular degeneration.
Publications:
Charbel Issa P, Troeger E, Finger R, Holz FG, Wilke R, Scholl HP. Structure-function correlation of the human central retina. PLoS One. 2010 Sep 22;5(9):e12864. 
Troeger E, Sliesoraityte I, Charbel Issa P, Scholl HN, Zrenner E, Wilke R. An integrated software solution for multi-modal mapping of morphological and functional ocular data. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2010;1:6280-3.
Finger RP, Fimmers R, Holz FG, Scholl HPN (2011) Incidence of blindness and severe visual impairment in Germany - projections for 2030. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011: Epub.
Finger RP, Fimmers R, Holz FG, Scholl HPN (2011) Prevalence and causes of registered blindness in the largest federal state of Germany. Brit J Ophthalmol. 95: Epub.
Charbel Issa P, Finger RP, Kruse K, Baumüller S, Scholl HP, Holz FG. Monthly Ranibizumab for Nonproliferative Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: A 12-Month Prospective Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2011 Feb 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Weismann D, Hartvigsen K, Lauer N, Bennett KL, Scholl HP, Charbel Issa P, Cano M, Brandstätter H, Tsimikas S, Skerka C, Superti-Furga G, Handa JT, Zipfel PF, Witztum JL, Binder CJ. Complement factor H binds malondialdehyde epitopes and protects from oxidative stress. Nature. 2011 Oct 5;478(7367):76-81. doi: 10.1038/nature10449.
Lauer N, Mihlan M, Hartmann A, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Keilhauer C, HPN, Charbel Issa P, Holz F, Weber BH, Skerka C, Zipfel PF (2011) Complement regulation at necrotic cell lesions is impaired by the age-related macular degeneration-associated factor-h his402 risk variant. J Immunol. 187: 4374-83.
Finger RP, Charbel Issa P, Hendig D, Scholl HPN, Holz FG (2011) Monthly ranibizumab for choroidal neovascularizations secondary to angioid streaks in pseudoxanthoma elasticum: A one-year prospective study. Am J Ophthalmol. 152: 695-703.
