How glutathione-linked breakdown of retinal fats may drive inflammation in age-related macular degeneration
Official title: Glutathionylated Products of Radical-Induced Lipid Oxidation in Inflammatory Disease
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11166490 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is seeing if glutathione-linked breakdown products of retinal fats trigger inflammation that contributes to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $394,027 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY034075-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166490 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with age-related macular degeneration or those willing to donate retinal tissue or provide clinical samples would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without AMD or whose vision loss stems from unrelated causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic and preclinical research.
What this research studies
Researchers will identify and characterize glutathione-derived lipid products (called øLTs) that form when retinal fats are damaged by oxidation. They will use a rat model of light-induced retinal degeneration to test whether these molecules cause inflammation and retinal cell damage. The team will also examine human retinal samples to confirm øLT presence and biological activity and to see how they mimic leukotriene signaling. Together these experiments aim to explain how these hidden molecules might interfere with current therapies and point toward new markers or targets for AMD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new markers and therapeutic targets to better diagnose and treat inflammation-driven AMD.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot data show these glutathione-linked lipids exist in human retina and have leukotriene-like activity, but applying this specific mechanism to AMD is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salomon, Robert Gerd — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Salomon, Robert Gerd
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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.