Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the two leading causes of blindness in adults in the industrialized world. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of newborn blindness in premature infants maintained by oxygen supplementation during the postnatal period. ? In each of these diseases, ischemia resulting from loss of blood flow induces pathological neovascularization in the eye. There are several animal models of eye neovascularization (e.g. the corneal pocket assay); however, drug screening using these models is time-consuming, requires complicated surgery, and can be done in only a few animals. In addition, the complexity of eye neovascularization related diseases necessitates the development of new animal models for therapeutic drug assessment. ? This SBIR aims to develop a quantitative in vivo zebrafish neovascularization animal model for screening drugs for human eye diseases. The conserved early development of zebrafish and human eye vasculature supports the zebrafish as a model for studying vascular diseases affecting the eye. In addition to developmental progression, angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are conserved between zebrafish and mammals at the molecular level. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43EY016916-01
Application #
6990985
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-F (12))
Program Officer
Wujek, Jerome R
Project Start
2005-09-16
Project End
2006-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-16
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$173,516
Indirect Cost
Name
Phylonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
071479849
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139