Chorioretinal Degenerations Laboratory
The Chorioretinal Degenerations Laboratory has as its primary goal the identification and characterization of the anatomical and molecular changes that occur in the choriocapillaris of eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). An additional goal of the laboratory is to characterize animal models for ocular diseases including AMD, Bardet Biedl syndrome, retinitis pigmentosa, and other chorioretinal degenerations with the long term goal of testing potential treatments for these blinding diseases.
The choriocapillaris is the network of blood vessels that supplies the outer retina, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones), with oxygen and nutrients while removing potentially harmful waste products. It is becoming clear that the choriocapillaris, RPE, and photoreceptor cells exist in an interdependent complex, in which failure of any of these layers ultimately leads to atrophy of the other two. The Chorioretinal Degenerations Laboratory is examining the role that cells of the choriocapillaris play in early AMD by examining their biochemistry and their cellular interactions.
Director
- Robert F. Mullins, Ph.D.
© 2003-2005
The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration
Contact Information