A new federal grant will support Kristan Worthington, a University of Iowa associate professor of biomedical engineering, in investigating factors that contribute to age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that gradually causes central vision loss.

Worthington and her collaborators will explore the interplay between tissue stiffness and the loss of function of two key cell systems – retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) and choroidal endothelial cells (ChECs). Loss of RPE and ChEC function are hallmarks of age-related macular degeneration, which affects approximately 11 million Americans. 

Innovative aspects of the study include exploring tissue stiffness as a contributor to age-related macular degeneration, while also including the impact of genetic risk factors. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies to slow, stall, or reverse progression of age-related macular degeneration. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded Worthington $1.9 million to back the research over 4.5 years.

Worthington, who joined the College of Engineering in 2017, specializes in biomaterials, photopolymerization, 3D printing, stem cells, and regenerative engineering. Application areas include retinal tissue engineering, precision drug delivery, and using biomaterials to control cell fate decisions.