Preclinical in vivo evaluation of sFLT secretion gene therapy for retinal and choroidal neovascularisation [ 2005 - 2007 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Elizabeth Rakoczy (Principal investigator) ,  Dr Chooi-May Lai ,  Prof Mariapia Degli-Esposti

Brief description The aim of this project is to develop a long-term treatment for diabetes-related retinal neovascularisation, reduce the occurrence of diabetic macular oedema and provide a highly effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration related choroidal neovascularisation before vision loss. The proposed technique would potentially be a major advance in disease management by providing a significantly improved or complementary treatment to the current therapies of laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy and photodynamic therapy. The proposed strategy utilizes recombinant virus-mediated gene delivery which basically produces the therapeutic agent specifically at the location of the disease. These studies addressing the feasibility of secretion gene therapy (SGT) will be readily applicable to our Gene Discovery Program Grant (JDRF-NHMRC 219166) that is set out to identify new anti-angiogenic genes.

Funding Amount $AUD 489,000.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant