Project Grant R01EY036104

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been awarded a $475,442 Project Grant (R01EY036104) from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research federal grant program (CFDA 93.867). The grant funding supports UCLA's research into the molecular mechanisms underlying the retinal pigment epithelium's (RPE) ingestion and degradation of photoreceptor outer segment (OS) tips, which is essential for maintaining photoreceptor cell viability. Through a combination of in vitro studies on primary RPE cells and in vivo analyses, the research aims to investigate the actin polymerization dynamics involved in the OS tip ingestion process, as well as the daily timing of this cellular event. The proposed work challenges current assumptions about OS tip ingestion by the RPE and is expected to generate novel findings that enhance the fundamental understanding of this vital function. The grant award period runs from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028.