The Generation of Cone Photoreceptor Outer Segments 

In combination with stem cell technologies and the brown anole lizard, this project investigates a transcriptional network critical for the generation of functional cone photoreceptor outer segments.

The loss of cone photoreceptor cells during age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to irreversible vision loss. Repairing these specialized cells could change the overall approach of AMD therapies and complement current treatment options. This research investigates how cone photoreceptor outer segments are formed and regenerated using stem cell organoids and the brown anole lizard, a novel research model for cone photoreceptor diseases. Findings will identify a new strategy and potential new therapeutic targets to improve and prevent the loss of cone photoreceptor cell function during AMD.

Our research is the first to correlate stem cell technologies and the lizard model to investigate alternative regulatory mechanisms of cone photoreceptor (PR) outer segment (OS) development and regeneration using the ATF6 transcriptome. These interdisciplinary research models will accelerate the identification of innovative regulatory mechanisms of cone OS formation, providing critical insights into potential regenerative targets for functional cone PR cells and vision, and paving the way towards alternative and synergistic approaches for treating AMD pathologies.

Dry atrophic AMD involves the degeneration of the RPE, retina, and choriocapillaris, contributing to vision loss. Our research specifically focuses on the generation of functional cone photoreceptor outer segments to stabilize and improve damaged cone PR cells in AMD patients’ retinas. By combining stem cell technologies with the brown anole lizard model, we aim to explore new AMD research models, enhancing current therapies and advancing our understanding of retinal diseases for the benefit of patients and the scientific community.