Calcium deposits in the eye and brain
Project 3 - Mechanisms of extra- and intra-cellular calcification
This project works to understand how calcium-rich mineral deposits form under retinal cells and in brain tissue in people with age-related macular degeneration and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11390463 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how and why calcium-rich deposits (hydroxyapatite) form both outside and inside cells in the space under the retinal pigment epithelium using lab-grown 3D retinal cell models and molecular tools. Researchers examine how proteins, lipids, and cellular pathways misdirect minerals and impair nutrient exchange between blood and retinal cells. The team also links similar calcification processes seen in Alzheimer’s disease to find shared mechanisms. Their experiments use cellular models, 3D culture techniques, and molecular perturbations to identify contributors to ectopic mineral deposition.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related macular degeneration (especially early or intermediate stages) or individuals willing to donate eye tissue, blood samples, or clinical data would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: Patients without calcification-related eye or neurodegenerative conditions or those with irreversible, end-stage vision loss are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal targets to prevent or reduce harmful calcification and slow vision loss from AMD or related neurodegenerative damage.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified hydroxyapatite in AMD lesions and linked calcification to disease progression, but targeting these deposits remains largely experimental and early stage.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lengyel, Imre — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Lengyel, Imre
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 below.