NIH R01 · 2025
Aberrant RPE mTORC1 signaling in dysregulation of choroid homeostasis
The overall goal of the project is to delineate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that link dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to degeneration of the choriocapillaris (CC). Choroidal atrophy is an early pathological change in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in elderly people. The RPE produces a number of trophic factors that support the structural integrity of the choroidal vasculature. Aging and age-related degeneration can interfere with the functional interactions between the RPE and CC. The underlying disease mechanisms are largely unclear. We found that the mouse model of RPE-specific overactivation of the mechanistic target of…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.