PRORET: Neuroprotection in the retina

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 01.0141
• Projekttitel Englisch: PRORET: Neuroprotection in the retina

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Neurodegenerative diseases of the eye; glaucoma; ischemic diabetic retinopathy; neuroprotection; disease models;
Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Social Aspects

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: QLK6-CT-2000-00569

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.6 The ageing population and disabilities

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

ULP, Strasbourg(F); Universidad de Murcia, Murcia (E); University Hospital, Lund (S); Ludwig Maximilians Universität, Munich (D)

Abstract (Englisch)

In the ageing population, the morbidity from blinding retinal neuro-degenerations belongs to the most feared limitations of life quality. Blindness occurs in the main conditions e.g. glaucoma, ischemic diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration as a consequence of both specific and common pathways leading to retinal cell, mainly neuronal, loss. The global objective of PRORET is therefore the development of therapeutic strategies aiming at blocking the cell death process triggered by genetic mutations or the ischemic process. The scientific and technical objectives of the PRORET project are: to identify and characterise factors and mechanisms involved in retinal degeneration as a basis for the development of rational therapeutic approaches; to design methods for therapeutic intervention and, as a perquisite, for further develop models for retinal degeneration.

The strategies termed under 'neuro-protection' aim at limiting or preventing cell death. Such treatments can operate either directly on the degenerating cells or by acting on surrounding cells. Since cell death is mainly occurring through hapoptosis, we will particularly target this common pathway to find general neuro-protective strategies. We wish to generalize and fully understand recent promising findings and screen new potential molecules on in vitro and in vivo models. Delivery system for applying molecules or cells to the retina will be developed in parallel to molecule screening. New neuro-protective strategies are expected to reach clinical trials during the course of this project.

The objectives are:
- to identify and characterise factors and mechanisms involved in retinal degeneration as a basis for development of therapeutic approaches;
- to design methods for therapeutic intervention and, as a perquisite, to further develop models.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0141