New NEI grant provides funding for WVU vision researchers to explore new gene therapies for blinding genetic eye disease
A new grant awarded to the West Virginia University School of Medicine from the National Eye Institute will provide funding for vision researchers to develop novel therapies for the blinding retinal disease known as retinitis pigmentosa.
The grant, awarded to the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, will provide approximately $1.9 million in funding over five years. The project is led by assistant professor Ezequiel Salido, M.D., Ph.D.
“Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary eye disease caused by mutations in genes that affect our ability to sense light,” Dr. Salido explained. “Through this study, we aim to silence those affected genes and replace them with healthy new ones.”
Symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa include night blindness, a narrowing of the visual field, sensitivity to bright light and, ultimately, a progressive loss of vision. In addition to developing novel gene therapies, this study seeks to further examine the relationship between retinitis pigmentosa and the extracellular matrix of the retina.
Salido specializes in the research of the extracellular matrix, a large network of proteins and other molecules that surround, support and give structure to most cells and tissues in the body. He explained that the retina is home to a specialized extracellular matrix that surrounds the light-detecting photoreceptor cells and plays a significant role in the health and function of the retina.
“Mutations affecting the extracellular matrix in the retina lead to blinding diseases; however, the specific role of the matrix in relation to blinding diseases like retinitis pigmentosa remains elusive. This project will explore the functions of two interdependent proteoglycan molecules within the matrix and how mutations in those molecules are associated with retinitis pigmentosa,” Salido explained.
Salido said he is grateful to the National Eye Institute for this funding, which will enable him to establish a laboratory dedicated to studying extracellular matrices and their critical role in neuroscience.
“This funding not only boosts my confidence in developing future proposals but also provides me with the opportunity to hire and mentor talented young researchers in this exciting field,” Salido said. “I am pleased to contribute to WVU’s prestigious R1 research environment, strengthening the Eye Institute’s research department and enhancing its funding and impact.”
In addition to Salido, the project is supported by WVU School of Medicine vision researchers Wen Tao Deng, Ph.D., and Jianhai Du, Ph.D. The preliminary findings that supported this successful proposal were generated with the assistance of the Visual Function and Morphology Core, which is part of the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Visual Sciences, funded by NIGMS.
To learn more about vision research at the School of Medicine, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/eye/research.