The Use Of MicroRNA As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Reducing Retinal Inflammation And Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,076.00
Summary
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in Australia. We aim to investigate a new class of potential therapeutics, microRNA which are involved in the regulation of many biological processes, including inflammation. A greater understanding of these miRNA will enable discovery of novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases like AMD, and will have further reaching applications in other inflammatory disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The Role Of Gliosis In Advanced Retinal Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,785.00
Summary
The development of treatments that restore vision assumes that the output neurons of the retina remain intact. Yet, there is now considerable evidence that the neurons that signal from the retina to the brain are altered in those that have degenerative diseases of the retina. Here, we will examine the cause of these cellular changes in an animal model and seek to prevent the loss of output neurons. This information is crucial for the development of treatments that seeks to restore vision.
Determining The Electrical Stimulation Parameters Required To Program The Bionic Eye To Effect Vision.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,449.00
Summary
Our eyes are invaluable organs that we use for nearly all daily tasks. Loss of vision is devastating but, unfortunately, little can be done at this time. One strategy to restore vision is through a prosthetic to stimulate the retina. For a prosthetic to work, however, we must first understand how the retina encodes the visual image. Our research seeks to decode the retinal signals and determine how a Bionic Eye could be programmed to mimic them.
We will investigate changes in the retina secondary to disease process and try and modify them to allow a longer time frame for intervention. These changes (remodelling) are detrimental to visual function and the effectiveness of measures aimed at restoring vision, eg, bionic eye.
Glaucoma is a progressive, poorly understood blinding disease with limited treatment options. It is characterised by the death of the nerve cells in the eye whose fibres form the optic nerve. Results obtained in the current proposal will lead to a better understanding of key features of the early stages of the disease and, additionally, will explore the potential of a novel therapeutic approach based on regeneration of damaged nerve fibres within the optic nerve.
Age-related macular degeneration, involves the progressive loss of light sensitive cells from the retina, and is a major cause of loss of vision, and quality of life, in people over 60. Activation of immune mechanisms have been implicated in the disease, but it is not understood, why the immune system attacks vision cells. This study looks at the mechanisms of the activation of immune cells and will test treatment strategies to minimize immune activation, and thereby prevent blindness.
Abnormalities in cells at the back of the eye called photoreceptors are associated with at least 50% of all cases of blindness in this country.This project will examine a novel mechanism of photoreceptor death. In particular, whether abnormalties in support cells at the back of the eye cause photoreceptors to lose contact with their nutrient source and die.
The Cellular Organisation Of Interneurones In Human Retina
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,454.00
Summary
Our goal is to determine the numbers and types of nerve cells in the human retina: the part of the eye where visual processing starts. This data will serve as a baseline against which effects of visual disease can be measured.
Understanding the structure of the human retina is important for understanding normal visual function. The goal of this study is to supply data on the distribution, density and connectivity of nerve cells in the human retina. Our study will provide a foundation for areas of clinical investigation of the human retina.
The Role Of Dopamine And Other Neuromodulators As Light Signals In The Inner Retina: A Link To Night Blindness Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,250.00
Summary
Although most human activities can be performed at night as efficiently as during daytime due to the use of artificial light, normal function of the circuits underlying night vision is critical. For example, when driving at night in a poorly illuminated road where the region illuminated by the headlights is processed by the cone circuit that serves daylight in the retina whilst the peripheral areas are processed by the rod driven nighttime circuit. Impairment of night vision and of the dark-ligh ....Although most human activities can be performed at night as efficiently as during daytime due to the use of artificial light, normal function of the circuits underlying night vision is critical. For example, when driving at night in a poorly illuminated road where the region illuminated by the headlights is processed by the cone circuit that serves daylight in the retina whilst the peripheral areas are processed by the rod driven nighttime circuit. Impairment of night vision and of the dark-light switch can have fatal consequences. Night blindness is a symptom characterised by reduced vision in the dark and slow adaptation to dim light. Some congenital night blindness disorders are caused by mutations in the photoreceptor calcium channels which mediate signal transmission. Additionally, patients treated with neuroleptics, a group of drugs which affect the dopaminergic system, suffer night vision disorders. Dopamine acts as a light signal in the retina. AII amacrine cells are pivotal neurones for night vision segregating two channels (ON and OFF) which convey visual information. AII cells are modulated by dopamine and thus, represent interesting targets to study the role of dopamine in the dark-light switch. Much is know about the action of dopamine on transmission of ON signals channelled by AII cells. However, its action on the OFF channel is largely unknown. We believe that some night vision disorders originate by imbalance in the dopaminergic system in the retina and its effects on AII cells. We will test our hypothesis by studying the modulatory effect of dopamine on calcium dependent signal transmission between AII cells and their partners in the OFF channel. Our hypothesis will be further tested by using animal models in which dopamine receptor function is altered. The results of these studies will provide us with an invaluable model to understand the physiological basis of the dark-light switch and of the role of dopamine in night vision disorders.Read moreRead less