# Developmental regulation of retinal microglia

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2021 · $369,812

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Microglia, the resident neuroimmune cells of the CNS, play important developmental roles. While brain
microglia have been extensively studied, less is known about the molecular properties and function of microglia
in the developing retina. The goal of this proposal is to address how retinal microglia change over the course of
development, the molecular pathways involved and how this relates to their function. The first aim will
determine whether there are molecularly distinct subpopulations of microglia in embryonic and early postnatal
retina. The second aim will address the function of microglia in the early postnatal retina by utilizing knowledge
about their gene expression signature and targeting them for depletion. Finally, in the last aim we will test how
developmental events govern retinal microglia phenotype and function, and the molecular pathways involved.
By determining how changes in microglial properties are regulated and contribute to development of the retina
we will gain insight into fundamental mechanisms of retina development and microglial function. This may
ultimately inform our understanding of how microglia are modulated and participate in degenerative disease
processes resulting in loss of vision.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179402
- **Project number:** 5R01EY030307-03
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Monica L Vetter
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $369,812
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179402

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179402, Developmental regulation of retinal microglia (5R01EY030307-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179402. Licensed CC0.

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