# Telomerase in choroidal neovascularization

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $59,304

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Aberrant ocular angiogenesis underlies catastrophic loss vision due to multiple conditions
including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD), proliferative diabetic
retinopathy (DR), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and ischemic retinal vein occlusion. Although
anti-VEGF therapy has revolutionized the management of such disorders, the drugs suffer from
several roadblocks. Prolonged anti-VEGF therapies are accompanied by serious risks and
significant number of patients still experience vision loss despite treatment. Therefore, new
insights into molecular mechanisms that promote angiogenesis in the retina are needed for the
development of more effective therapies. Recent studies in the laboratory have identified a
proangiogenic activity of telomerase in mouse model of experimental choroid neovascularization
(CNV). Studies proposed here will build on these exciting new findings to test the hypothesis that
telomerase is an important mediator of aberrant ocular angiogenesis. To this end, employing
mouse model of laser injury-induced choroidal neovascularization, we will rigorously define
proangiogenic activity of telomerase and examine whether and how the proangiogenic
mechanisms of telomerase and VEGF signaling converge and interface. Overall, we anticipate
that this study will not only provide new insights into the role of telomerase in ocular angiogenesis,
but also usher in new avenues of research for examining the synergy between telomerase biology
ocular angiogenesis and retinal vasculopathies in the context multiple blinding diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9989115
- **Project number:** 5R21EY030651-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Nagaraj Kerur
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $59,304
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9989115

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9989115, Telomerase in choroidal neovascularization (5R21EY030651-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9989115. Licensed CC0.

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