Illuminating Elusive Proteins Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the industrialized world. Although variants in two genes—ARMS2/HTRA1—are the largest genetic contributor to AMD, their role in disease pathology has been challenging to study with existing methods. The goal of this project is to develop a new approach to gain insight into the pathobiology of ARMS2 and its relevance to AMD. Researchers will develop a series of stem cells that will eventually be used to identify new treatments that promote retinal health and prevent AMD-associated blindness.