Neutrophils as a novel therapeutic target for age-related macular degeneration

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause blindness in Australia. There are few therapeutic interventions for patients, despite the prevalence of AMD projected to nearly double by 2040 without new treatments. Inflammation is with the pathogenesis of the disease, although there is a profound gap in our understanding of factors that promote immune activation in the eye. This has stymied efforts to uncover novel therapeutics and biomarkers, which are needed to improve patient outcomes. This project will explore a role of the Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in AMD and evaluate its potential as a novel therapeutic/diagnostic target.