The National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded a $392,892 Project Grant under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) to The University of Iowa. The grant, with an award date of September 1, 2024 and ultimate completion date of March 31, 2029, will fund research to determine how changes in extracellular matrix stiffness influence the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) and choroidal endothelial cells (ChECs) - a hallmark of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the role that matrix biomechanics and genetic risk factors play in the EMT process associated with AMD progression. The findings are expected to inform the development of new or combinatorial therapeutic strategies that could slow, stall, or reverse AMD.
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