How heme affects blood vessel growth in the retina
The role of heme in retinal vascular development and disease
This work looks at whether changing heme levels and the Flvcr2 heme transporter can correct abnormal retinal blood vessels that cause vision loss in conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306995 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how heme and the endothelial heme importer Flvcr2 control the growth and integrity of retinal blood vessels, focusing on molecular signaling pathways such as Notch, VEGF, and Norrin–β-catenin. The team will use cellular and mouse models of retinal vasculopathy to see how reduced or increased heme production/import changes vessel formation, tip/stalk cell behavior, and tissue oxygenation. They will test whether inducing Flvcr2/heme signaling can reverse vascular defects and related vision changes in mouse models of exudative vitreoretinopathies and choroidal neovascularization. Tissue analyses, imaging, and functional vision tests in animals will be used to link molecular changes to blood-vessel structure and retinal function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with retinal vascular conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, retinopathy of prematurity, or inherited exudative vitreoretinopathies would be the patients most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision loss is due to non-vascular causes or who need immediate therapies are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-science project during the grant period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to restore normal retinal blood vessels and prevent or slow vision loss in diseases like AMD, retinopathy of prematurity, and certain inherited vitreoretinopathies.
How similar studies have performed: This is a relatively novel approach focused on heme and Flvcr2, though preliminary data and related animal studies support a role for heme in retinal vessel growth.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arnold, Thomas Darmody — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Arnold, Thomas Darmody
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.