How the eye's light-sensing cells get and store fuel
Control of Photoreceptor Metabolism
This work looks at how photoreceptors and their support cells use and store sugar and fat to help protect vision in aging and macular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259446 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will examine how photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) take up, use, and store glucose and fats, and how those processes change over the day. They will combine experiments on tissue samples and living models to measure metabolic flows and energy stores in RPE/choroid tissue. The work focuses on glycogen (short-term sugar storage) and fatty acid metabolism in the RPE and how daily rhythms support retinal health. Results aim to explain how metabolic failure with aging or environment contributes to vision loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related macular degeneration, other retinal degenerations, or age-related vision loss would be most likely to benefit from findings.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision loss is mainly from optic nerve disease, brain injury, or simple refractive problems like cataracts are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new metabolic ways to preserve photoreceptors and slow vision loss from aging or age-related macular degeneration.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links retinal metabolism to photoreceptor survival, but studying daily rhythms of glycogen and fat storage in the RPE is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurley, James Bryant — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hurley, James Bryant
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.