# Identifying mechanisms that detect and eliminate aneuploid cells

> **NIH NIH R21** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2022 · $240,261

## Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract are major causes of vision
loss and all three diseases are age-related. Each is associated with the accumulation
of senescent cells in, respectively, the retinal pigmented epithelium, the retinal
ganglion cells, and the lens epithelium, and mouse model studies indicate that
senescent cells contribute to the occurrence and progression of these eye diseases.
Senescent cells are abnormal cells that accumulate during aging, fail to divide and
instead have disruptive effects on tissue function. Recent research indicates that
senescent cells are aneuploid ie have chromosomal abnormalities. Aneuploid cells
can be removed from developing tissues and preliminary data indicates that other
cells recognize them based on imbalanced ribosomal protein gene dose. Genetic
screens will be performed in fruitfly eyes to isolate gene mutations that act in
normal cells to prevent their recognizing and eliminating aneuploid cells. Whole
genome sequencing and mapping methods will be used to identify the genes
affected by these mutations, which will provide insight into the molecular
mechanisms of aneuploid cell recognition and removal. It is anticipated that these
studies can help understand how senescent cells accumulate to cause age-related
macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract, and suggest approaches to reduce the
incidence and progression of these eye disases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320458
- **Project number:** 5R21EY032256-02
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicholas E Baker
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $240,261
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320458, Identifying mechanisms that detect and eliminate aneuploid cells (5R21EY032256-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320458. Licensed CC0.

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