How the eye takes up and uses vitamin A
STRA6 and Ocular Vitamin A Homeostasis
This project examines how the STRA6 protein helps eyes take up vitamin A, with the goal of improving understanding for people with vitamin A–related vision problems.
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 ID | NIH-11176310 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective: the team will compare eyes of mice that lack STRA6 with normal mice to see how reduced vitamin A uptake affects eye structure and function. They will examine the outer blood–retina barrier to see if vitamin A shortage weakens its integrity and alters signaling. The researchers will also use human retinal pigment epithelial cells made from iPSCs to test whether the same molecular changes occur in human-derived cells. Together these approaches aim to link disrupted vitamin A transport to problems like night blindness and complex retinal syndromes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with vitamin A–related vision problems—such as night blindness or genetic conditions affecting STRA6 or retinoid transport—would be the most relevant group.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision loss stems from causes unrelated to vitamin A transport or retinoid signaling may not receive direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why vitamin A transport problems cause vision loss and point to new targets or strategies to prevent or treat those conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetic and animal studies have linked STRA6 to vitamin A uptake and vision defects, but combining barrier-function studies with human iPSC-derived retinal cells is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Von Lintig, Johannes Friedrich — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Von Lintig, Johannes Friedrich
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.