# Role of Retinoic Acid in the Regulation of the Blood-Retinal Barrier.

> **NIH NIH R01** · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · 2020 · $413,016

## Abstract

Project Summary
An intact blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is critical for the maintenance of the health of the retina. The endothelial
cells of the retinal blood vessels along with the surrounding pericytes and astrocytes form a neurovascular unit
with strong barrier properties. Very little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate
the development and maintenance of the BRB. We hypothesize that retinoic acid (RA) plays a critical role in
the regulation of BRB formation as well as maintenance. We will test this hypothesis using a novel zebrafish
model that we have developed, which allows the longitudinal in vivo visualization and testing of the BRB.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10011815
- **Project number:** 5R01EY026181-05
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- **Principal Investigator:** BELA ANAND-APTE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $413,016
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10011815

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10011815, Role of Retinoic Acid in the Regulation of the Blood-Retinal Barrier. (5R01EY026181-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10011815. Licensed CC0.

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