Molecular Dysregulation in Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a blinding disease that affects 4% over the age of 40 in the United States. There is no cure for this condition. Corneal tranplantation is the prevalent treatment. With the aging population, there is increasing scarcity of donor tissues. In addition, tranplant failures due to graft rejections occur in 10-25% of corneal transplantations. This proposal focuses on identifying previously understudied molecular signaling pathways in FECD. Successful completion of the specific aims in this proposal can lead to alternative therapies for FECD.