Functional Recovery From Retinal Degeneration: Genetic, Environmental And Senescent Models
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,888.00
Summary
This project is directed towards treatment for the blindness caused by retinal degeneration. The retina of the eye degenerates in several groups of diseases, and from several causes. Many cases affect young people and result from small genetic mutations in key proteins. Many appear to be caused by environmental damage to the retina, perhaps at birth. Retinal degeneration causes progressive blindness in a minority of younger people (about 1 in 4,000, so 5,000 Australians and 1-2 million people wo ....This project is directed towards treatment for the blindness caused by retinal degeneration. The retina of the eye degenerates in several groups of diseases, and from several causes. Many cases affect young people and result from small genetic mutations in key proteins. Many appear to be caused by environmental damage to the retina, perhaps at birth. Retinal degeneration causes progressive blindness in a minority of younger people (about 1 in 4,000, so 5,000 Australians and 1-2 million people world-wide). This condition is known as Retinitis pigmentosa. However, the normal retinal undergoes a slow loss of photoreceptors whose effect is cumulative, so that the vision of all peoples slowly fades towards the blindness of old age. In this form, retinal degeneration affects potentially everyone. We have recently published an 'oxygen toxicity' theory of retinal degeneration to account for both retinitis pigmentosa and senescent degeneration. The theory applies whether the dystrophy is preciptated by genetic mutation or by environmental factors . By the time a person becomes aware of blindness (commonly night blindness) from retinal degeneration, the loss of vision results (it is argued) from 2 causes: the death of some photoreceptors (the retinal cells which detect light) and damage to surviving photoreceptors. Both death and damage are caused by oxygen toxicity, arising from particular features of the retina's metabolism and blood supply. Further, the relentless progression of the blindness is inherent in the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity. In preliminary work we have been able to slow retinal degenerations and, importantly, to restore function in degenerating retinas by countering the oxygen toxicity. Experiments are proposed to expand this evidence and explore the time course, permanence and generality of these effects. The tests of retinal recovery and stability, and the mechanisms of countering oxygen toxicity will be readily applicable to clinical trials.Read moreRead less
The Involvement Of Extracellular ATP In Photoreceptor Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$155,145.00
Summary
Retinal photoreceptor degenerations account for approximately 50% of all cases of blindness in those aged over 40 in Australia. This work will investigate whether extracelllular ATP, a signalling molecule, contributes to diseases affecting retinal photoreceptors such as Retinitis Pigmentosa and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Plasticity Of Cone Bipolar Cells In Retinas With Visual Dysfunction.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,261.00
Summary
Advances in stem cell research and gene therapy have shown great promise in their application to eye disorders that lead to blindness. This project will examine the capacity of nerve cells in the eye to remodel in the presence of visual dysfunction and subsequent recovery after gene therapy. The results from this study will therefore benefit current approaches employed for the reestablishment of vision in eye diseases.
I am a glial-vascular biologist determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms of vessel formation in the retina and choroid. These studies are undertaken during normal developmental and various experimental models of pathological neovascularisation. A
Strategies To Enhance Recruitment Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells And Their Differentiation To Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$29,627.00
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of adult blindness in the western world. As the Australian population ages, many more people will suffer from this disease. This project aims to use adult stem cells, called hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) to repair injured vessels in the eye. This approach optimises healthy repair of the retina by facilitating differentiation of HSC into retinal pigment epithelium, the cells whose malfunction is the underlying initiator of the disease.