Study of Complement and HLA Related AMD

This study will investigate the existence of new complement related genes that cause AMD and whether or not microbial infection could lead trigger AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the Western world. As current treatments are extremely limited, improving understanding of this disease is vital to developing better treatments. Happily, progress is being made. Recent work on complement factor H (CFH) and our work on human leukocyte antigens (HLA) have highlighted the importance of inflammation in the development of AMD. Our proposed research will use modern molecular genetic techniques to test whether 1) other related complement genes also cause AMD, 2) there is a microbial trigger activating the complement cascade in AMD, and 3) investigate how HLA associations lead to AMD. If these experiments are successful, our understanding of the biology of complement and ‘HLA related age-related macular degeneration’ could be radically altered. This offers the best hope for tailoring current AMD management and developing novel treatments for this prevalent cause of blindness.