Project Grant R21EY035366

This $435,659 Project Grant award from the National Eye Institute (NEI) under the Vision Research (CFDA 93.867) program supports research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to study the stability of collagen IV, a key structural component of the extracellular matrix and basement membranes. The goal is to develop genetic or chemical approaches to stabilize collagen IV assembly, which could lead to new treatments for Gould syndrome and other collagen-associated disorders that can cause vision loss. Specifically, the researchers will screen Gould syndrome-associated mutations to identify those that can be partially corrected, and conduct high-throughput chemical screens to identify drug-like molecules that promote proper collagen IV biogenesis. This 2-year project is expected to reveal insights into the relationship between collagen IV subunit interactions and secretion, providing a basis for future therapeutic development.