Understanding how cell cleanup and inflammation affect dry age-related macular degeneration
Official title: Deciphering the role of mitochondrial/autophagy dysfunction in regulating inflammatory processes during AMD pathogenesis
Funded at Research Foundation for the State University of New York, the · NIH-11506148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how problems with cell recycling (autophagy) and inflammation in eye cells may contribute to dry AMD, aiming to uncover new ways to treat this common cause of vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Foundation for the State University of New York, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,737 |
| NIH project number | 4R00EY033421-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11506148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with AMD risk variants and healthy controls who could donate tissue-derived cells or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without AMD risk alleles or without participation in related human-cell studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a new mouse model and human stem-cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium cells from people with and without AMD risk variants to explore how autophagy and inflammatory signals interact in dry AMD. The goal is to map how organelle homeostasis and inflammation drive disease progression and to identify potential therapeutic targets. If successful, the work could pave the way for novel treatments for dry AMD, a condition with limited current options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of dry AMD could lead to new treatment strategies that slow or prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies linking autophagy and inflammation to AMD have shown promising leads, but this approach is novel in combining mouse models with patient-derived cells.
Where this research is happening
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Research Foundation for the State University of New York, the
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghosh, Sayan — Research Foundation for the State University of New York, the
- Study coordinator: Ghosh, Sayan
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.