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Rod photoreceptor regeneration in a zebrafish model of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Award Number: F31EY034793
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/16/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/16/2025
AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 03/09/2026

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Rod photoreceptor regeneration in a zebrafish model of Retinitis Pigmentosa. - Abstract: A cellular hallmark of inherited retinal degenerative diseases, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), is progressive loss of photoreceptors until the individual is completely blind. With degeneration starting at an early age, many patients with RP become blind early on in their adulthood. Affecting 100,000 people annually in the US alone and being the second most prominent genetic retinal degenerative disease worldwide, research is necessary in order to identify therapies that can improve the quality of life for these patients. Unlike mammalian models, Zebrafish (Zf) have a remarkable capacity to regenerate neurons following retinal injury or disease, making them a suitable model organism for regenerative studies. Current studies in Zf have indicated that upon detection of retinal insult, Mϋller glial cells (MGCs) are reprogrammed to re-enter the cell cycle, asymmetrically divide, and produce multi-potent progenitor cells. These newly formed progenitor cells rapidly proliferate and re-differentiate to replace lost retinal cells. Several genes, pathways, and transcriptional factors have been shown to play a role in reprogramming MGCs, inducing progenitor cell proliferation, and differentiating these cells into functional inner retinal neurons; however, the mechanisms by which genes work together spatially and temporally to regenerate rods in a model with chronic retinal degeneration remain unknown. The purpose of this study is to understand the regeneration mechanisms of rod photoreceptors in Zf and to identify the master regulatory genes crucial for their lineage trajectory. Our preliminary analyses have identified a group of retinal progenitor cells believed to be responsible for rod photoreceptor regeneration. Aim 1 of this proposal will assess the roles of candidate regulatory genes and transcription factors in the differentiation of these progenitor cells into rod photoreceptors. Aim 2 will assess the lineage trajectory of progenitor cells to form rod photoreceptors and identify when and how the progenitor cells are formed. Upon successful completion of this project, I will have identified the set of transcription factors needed to induce rod photoreceptor regeneration in adult Zf. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide the targets necessary to restore vision in blind patients with retinal degenerative diseases such as RP so that they may have an improved quality of life.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$27,897 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON	7000 FANNIN ST FL 9	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	000	3	3/9/2026	TERMINATION	-$27,897
														Subtotal = -$27,897

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $37,525 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON	7000 FANNIN ST FL 9	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	001	3	7/31/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$564
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON	7000 FANNIN ST FL 9	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	000	3	12/19/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,961
														Subtotal = $37,525

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $36,961 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON	7000 FANNIN ST FL 9	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	000	2	1/11/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$35,681
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON	7000 FANNIN ST FL 9	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	001	2	6/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,280
														Subtotal = $36,961

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $35,681 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON, THE	7000 FANNIN ST	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	001	1	1/11/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON, THE	7000 FANNIN ST	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	000	1	1/11/2023	NEW	$34,739
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON, THE	7000 FANNIN ST	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	002	1	3/8/2023	NEW	$942
														Subtotal = $35,681

Grand Total All Awards = $82,270

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Rod photoreceptor regeneration in a zebrafish model of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Award Number: F31EY034793

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/16/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/16/2025

AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 03/09/2026

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