Award
National Eye Institute 5R01EY034497-04
Elucidating the Role of Very-long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Retinal Health and Disease
Recipient
University of Utah
Award Amount
$390,875.00
Ceiling
$390,875.00
Awarded
July 22, 2026
Identifier
5R01EY034497-04
NIH awarded a grant to the University of Utah to study the role of VLC-PUFAs in retinal health and disease, aiming to develop synthetic lipids for therapeutic use in AMD and Stargardt's disease.
Description
This NIH-funded project focuses on lipid research related to retinal diseases, with potential therapeutic applications involving synthetic lipids for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt's disease. The project aims to develop synthetic very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs), test their targeting to the retina, and evaluate their functional benefits in animal models. It explores mechanisms underlying VLC-PUFA's protective effects in retinal health.