The National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded a five-year, $513,371 Project Grant under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) to The Ohio State University to investigate the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in oxidative retinal damage and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing self-DNA escape into the cytosol, define the activation of cGAS-driven effector pathways in retinal and RPE tissue under acute and chronic oxidative stress, and evaluate the potential protective benefits of inhibiting cGAS signaling in a chronic RPE degeneration mouse model. This comprehensive study seeks to reveal the intricate involvement of the cGAS-STING pathway in AMD-related retinal and RPE deterioration, with the goal of informing the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to address this leading cause of vision loss.
Generated 3/25/25, 5:54 AM