Retina Research Foundation Awards First Grant to USU for Eye Disease Study
Utah State University Professors Elizabeth Vargis and Justin Jones have received a $50,000 grant from the Retina Research Foundation to support their research on age-related vision loss. This marks the first time the foundation has funded research at USU, representing a significant milestone in the university's ocular health research efforts.
Elizabeth Vargis reviews research findings with student researchers, working to unlock new ways to protect vision from age-related macular degeneration. (Photo Credit: Aaron Fortin)
Vargis, an associate professor of biological engineering, and Jones, an associate professor of biology, are collaborating to better understand the relationship between Bruch's membrane—a thin layer of tissue in the eye—and its role in the progression of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, which is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
"By identifying early biomarkers and intervention strategies, this research could preserve vision for millions at risk of blindness," said Vargis.
The team's work focuses on closing critical gaps in retinal health research to improve patient outcomes. Their efforts aim to deepen scientific understanding and explore new ways to preserve sight and enhance the quality of life for those affected by degenerative eye diseases.
This research team is using hagfish protein to recreate the retina membrane, opening the door for testing new drugs and treatments that could significantly slow or even cure age-related macular degeneration. (Photo Credit: Aaron Fortin)
"Current treatments target late-stage AMD, but this work focuses on early-stage disease and geographic atrophy, which currently lack effective therapies," Vargis added.
Geographic atrophy, an advanced form of AMD, occurs when retinal cells begin to die, leading to gradual vision loss. The research examines how thickening of Bruch's membrane contributes to oxidative stress and immune system imbalance—key processes that can drive the development of geographic atrophy.
The study also seeks to understand how the disease progresses from early to late stages to identify optimal points for intervention. Additionally, the team will test therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium, a thin layer of cells whose breakdown plays a central role in geographic atrophy and AMD progression.
This grant underscores the Retina Research Foundation's confidence in the groundbreaking work at USU and signals a promising future for both the university's research initiatives and the broader field of retinal science. The findings have the potential to advance treatments that could benefit millions worldwide affected by vision loss.
From its earliest days, the Retina Research Foundation has been guided by the principle that prevention is better than cure. By supporting research that uncovers the causes of retinal disease, the foundation lays the groundwork for discoveries that could translate into life-changing cures.
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Writer: Madeline Buskirk, madeline.buskirk@usu.edu, 435-797-7512
Contact: Elizabeth Vargis, vargis@usu.edu, 435-797-0618