# Investigating Mitochodrial Homeostasis as a Pathological Mechanism of Age Related Macular Degeneration

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2021 · $31,827

## Abstract

Project Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world, with an
increasing financial burden on the entire population. The dry form of AMD is characterized by the death of the
retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Numerous studies have implicated mitochondrial dysfunction as a potential
part of AMD pathology. Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction have been found in both RPE tissue and primary
RPE cultures from human donors with AMD. A bioenergetic crisis due to mitochondrial dysfunction could lead to
the multiple phenotypes associated with AMD, including inflammation and cell death. Mitochondrial homeostasis,
including biogenesis, fusion, fission, and mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), is a prime target for therapies.
However the pathway that leads to the accumulation of dysfunctional and damaged mitochondria in AMD is not
known. The three specific aims will assess mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion, and fission (Aim 1), mitophagy
(Aim 2), and potential molecular mechanisms (Aim 3) primarily using mitochondrial-targeted fluorescent probes
to measure these dynamic processes. Pharmacological activators or inhibitors will be used to assess the effect
of mitochondrial homeostasis on mitochondrial function. Preliminary data support the feasibility of using different
mitochondrial targeted fluorescent proteins to measure mitochondrial homeostasis. Identifying the step of
mitochondrial homeostasis responsible for accumulation of damaged mitochondria will provide therapeutic
targets to treat AMD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136946
- **Project number:** 1F31EY031558-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Cody R Fisher
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $31,827
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136946

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136946, Investigating Mitochodrial Homeostasis as a Pathological Mechanism of Age Related Macular Degeneration (1F31EY031558-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136946. Licensed CC0.

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