How aging and diet change the eye's retinal pigment cells
Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Epigenome Dysregulation With Aging and Modulation by Diet
This project looks at whether aging and higher-glycemic diets alter DNA 'switches' in retinal pigment cells that are linked to age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262843 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The researchers will make detailed maps of DNA chemical marks and chromatin openness in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to see how these features change with age and with different diets. They will use genome-wide techniques such as ATAC-seq and precise mapping of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in model systems and targeted eye samples. From your perspective, the team is trying to find the exact DNA regions that go awry so future treatments can be aimed at restoring healthy RPE function. The work focuses on links between dietary glycemic load, aging, and RPE changes that may lead to AMD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any future human-related parts would be older adults at risk for or with early-stage age-related macular degeneration, particularly those willing to share dietary history or tissue samples.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced, irreversible vision loss from late-stage AMD are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic-mapping work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify molecular targets to prevent or slow RPE atrophy and the vision loss seen in age-related macular degeneration.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked high-glycemic diets to AMD and shown epigenetic changes in other tissues, but comprehensive, genome-wide maps of RPE DNA modifications are largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freeman, Willard M — Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Freeman, Willard M
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.