Understanding cholesterol balance in the retina
Official title: Cholesterol homeostasis in the vertebrate retina
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11043384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cholesterol levels in the eye are kept healthy, especially for people with genetic conditions like Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome that can cause serious vision issues, and it uses special mouse models to learn how retinal cells can still work even when they don't have enough cholesterol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $368,881 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033298-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with hereditary cholesterol synthesis disorders, particularly those affected by Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with retinal diseases not related to cholesterol metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cholesterol levels are maintained in the retina, which is crucial for the health of retinal cells. It focuses on hereditary conditions like Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome that disrupt cholesterol synthesis, leading to severe vision problems. The researchers have developed new mouse models to study the effects of cholesterol deficiency on retinal cells and aim to understand how these cells can survive and function despite these deficiencies. By examining the role of cholesterol uptake from blood and other cells in the retina, the study seeks to uncover potential therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for retinal diseases caused by cholesterol imbalances.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using conditional allele models for studying cholesterol homeostasis in the retina is novel, related research has shown promise in understanding cholesterol's role in other tissues.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fliesler, Steven J. — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Fliesler, Steven J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving population health by studying reproductive health and development.
This study is looking at how different factors, like the environment and genetics, affect the health of pregnant women and people of reproductive age, with the goal of improving pregnancy outcomes and the health of children as they grow up.
-
How noise and hearing loss affect the first step of hearing in the brain
This NIH grant studies how noise and conductive hearing loss change the intimate connections between auditory nerves and brain cells, which could influence how we hear in noisy environments.
-
Programmable hydrogels to protect transplanted human OPCs in demyelinating disease
Aims to improve survival and integration of transplanted human oligodendrocyte precursor cells by using specially designed hydrogels to reduce cell death during delivery in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.
-
How a mouth bacterium might fuel gum disease and heart risk
A small study will look at how a bacterium in the mouth that makes a reactive chemical (methylglyoxal) could drive gum inflammation and changes in the mouth’s bacteria, possibly linking to heart disease.
-
New dual-acting treatments against tough Klebsiella pneumoniae infections
A new funding opportunity aims to develop therapies that both fight and disarm the dangerous Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, especially strains that resist many drugs, to help patients with serious infections.
-
Muscle health and aging in postmenopausal women
This NIH grant supports a study in older, postmenopausal women to understand how insulin and blood sugar relate to muscle loss over time and whether this differs by race/ethnicity.
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.