Regulation of the eye’s light-detecting enzymes
Official title: Regulation of Cyclic GMP Synthesis in Photoreceptors
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11419570 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grant to understand how the eye uses a key enzyme to detect light and keep vision, aiming to help people with inherited blindness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 1996 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $507,193 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY011522-31 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419570 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with inherited retinal dystrophies or congenital blindness related to RetGC signaling may benefit from advances in understanding and treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People without retinal degenerative conditions may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic work.
What this research studies
This research focuses on how the eye’s photoreceptors regulate the production of a molecule called cGMP, which is essential for sensing light. It studies the interactions between retinal guanylyl cyclase (RetGC), GCAPs, and RD3 to uncover how these components control vision and why defects lead to blindness. The team will map molecular interactions, identify mutations that affect regulation, and explore the structure of RD3 and its contact points with RetGC. By clarifying these molecular details, the work could inform future therapies for congenital retinal diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide the development of new treatments to prevent or slow vision loss in inherited retinal diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous basic research has linked RetGC signaling to photoreceptor health and some clinical trials are underway for RetGC-related blindness, indicating promise for this line of work.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dizhoor, Alexander M — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Dizhoor, Alexander M
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.