Antibodies and nanobodies to study a2d-4 in inherited retinal diseases
Official title: Generation of immunoreagents for studies of CACNA2D4-related inherited retinal dystrophies
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11442170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will create special antibodies to help study how the retina protein a2d-4 works in inherited eye diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $159,958 |
| NIH project number | 1R03TR006394-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with CACNA2D4-related retinal dystrophies or related IRDs may benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without retinal disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to produce renewable monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies that specifically target the retinal protein CACNA2D4 (a2d-4). These tools will be used with advanced microscopy to see where a2d-4 sits inside retinal cells and how it interacts with other proteins, both in healthy tissue and in disease states. By disrupting interactions between a2d-4 and partner proteins, scientists hope to uncover its role in vision and IRDs. The work is designed to advance our understanding of a2d-4’s function and could point toward new ways to modify disease progression in retinal disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal new targets and strategies for treating certain inherited retinal diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that antibodies and nanobodies can illuminate protein localization and disrupt specific protein interactions, supporting a2d-4 as a viable target.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Amy — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Lee, Amy
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.