Award
National Eye Institute 7R01EY035855-03
Extracellular microRNA-mediated intercellular communication between retinal microglia and RPE
Recipient
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Award Amount
$521,803.00
Ceiling
$521,803.00
Awarded
May 13, 2026
Identifier
7R01EY035855-03
This NIH-funded project studies how extracellular microRNAs mediate communication between retinal cells and explores engineered vesicles as therapy to reduce retinal inflammation and injury, aiming to treat age-related retinal diseases.
Description
The project investigates the transfer of extracellular microRNAs between retinal pigment epithelium and microglia as a means of intercellular communication and evaluates engineered RPE-derived extracellular vesicles as an interventional strategy to mitigate retinal inflammation and injury. It involves computational modeling and engineering of EVs for therapeutic purposes to modulate microglia function and alleviate age-related retinal diseases.