How glucose transport in the eye affects retinal health
Solute Transporters and Retinal Health
This work looks at whether moving glucose into retinal support cells and photoreceptors helps protect vision in adults with degenerative retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory mouse models to learn how glucose and lactate keep photoreceptor cells alive and working. Researchers turn off a key glucose transporter (GLUT1) in retinal pigment epithelium cells or rod photoreceptors to see how the retina responds. They will measure photoreceptor survival and retinal function and test whether inner retinal blood vessels can supply glucose when outer-barrier transport is reduced. The findings are intended to show whether the RPE spares glucose for photoreceptors or uses it for its own functions, guiding future protective therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, or other degenerative retinal disorders are the patient groups this research aims to help.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is caused by trauma, refractive errors, or non-degenerative eye conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal metabolic targets to protect photoreceptors and slow vision loss in age-related macular degeneration and other degenerative retinal diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research supports a link between retinal metabolism and photoreceptor survival, but directly manipulating GLUT1 in adult RPE or rods is a relatively new, primarily preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Philp, Nancy Jean — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Philp, Nancy Jean
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.