# Next-generation ligandomics technology to globally map cellular ligands of the retina

> **NIH NIH R43** · LIGANDOMICSRX, LLC · 2020 · $226,255

## Abstract

Project Summary
Extracellular ligands are among the most valuable drug targets, but are much less exploited for disease therapy
than plasma membrane receptors. This is mainly because the technical hurdles for ligand discovery are much greater
than those for receptors, the latter of which can be conveniently identified based on their transmembrane domains.
Current omics technologies, such as proteomics, functional proteomics and transcriptomics, are not designed to
map extracellular ligands. Consequently, extracellular ligands are traditionally identified and characterized on a
case-by-case basis with inherent technical challenges. It is even more daunting to delineate ligands with
therapeutic potential. To address these challenges, we recently developed a unique platform technology of
ligandomics for global mapping of cell-wide ligands as well as disease-selective ligands in the absence of
receptor information. The validity and utility of this innovative technology has been demonstrated by efficient
discovery of highly disease-selective angiogenic factors and rapid development of novel anti-angiogenic
therapies with high efficacy and minimal side effects on normal vessels. However, this first-generation
ligandomics technology has the limited application only to homogeneous cells. In this project, we will develop
next-generation ligandomics technology that is applicable to any type of cells. In Aim 1, we will develop the next-
generation ligandomics technology to map ligand-secreting and binding cells connected through different ligand
signaling pathways. In Aim 2, we will apply the new technology to diabetic and healthy retina to systematically
identify diabetes-selective cellular ligands. The successful implementation of this project will markedly improve
the capacity of ligandomics to identify cellular ligands and disease-selective ligands for different cells. Our new
ligandomics technology developed in this project is universally applicable to any cells, tissues and diseases, and
therefore may have the potential to impact on a broad field of cell biology research and drug target discovery.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10081460
- **Project number:** 1R43EY031643-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** LIGANDOMICSRX, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Hong Tian
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $226,255
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10081460

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10081460, Next-generation ligandomics technology to globally map cellular ligands of the retina (1R43EY031643-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10081460. Licensed CC0.

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