Modelling metabolic dysfunction in AMD

Dr Paul Roberts - City St George’s, University of London - £13,910

This project explores a new approach to understanding retinal disease by using mathematical modelling. By simulating how the retina uses nutrients and removes waste, the research aims to provide insights that are difficult to obtain through traditional experiments alone.

What is the problem?

Research into retinal conditions, particularly macular diseases, is limited by the lack of appropriate models. Only primates have a macula, and ethical concerns restrict their use in research. New ways of modelling retinal disease are urgently needed to accelerate understanding and treatment.

What are they doing?

This project aims to develop a mathematical model of retinal metabolism to complement existing clinical and experimental knowledge. The retina is highly sensitive to nutrient supply and waste removal, and imbalances can lead to retinal damage and vision loss.

The team has expertise in this area, having previously used mathematical modelling to investigate key pathological mechanisms in retinitis pigmentosa. This approach represents a progressive and innovative direction in retinal research.

How can this help?

Mathematical modelling could accelerate the development of treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by identifying how retinal metabolism goes wrong and how this might be corrected or prevented.

Similar modelling approaches have already had clinical impact in cardiology, for example guiding the virtual deployment of heart valve replacements and mapping ablation procedures to treat abnormal electrical signals in the heart.