Understanding Vision Loss in Diabetes: Molecular Insight and New Therapeutic Targets

Diabetic retinal disease or diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. The individual lifetime risk for developing DR is estimated to be 50–60% in patients with type 2 diabetes and over 90% in patients with type 1 diabetes. Retinal pathologies of DR include progressive damage of retinal blood vessels characterized by microaneurysms, breakdown of blood-retinal barrier, loss of capillaries (non-perfusion), and aberrant new vessel growth (neovascularization), as well as neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. The molecular mechanisms underlying DR pathogenesis are not fully understood. This talk will discuss the role of redox signaling in retinal vasculopathy in DR, revealing a novel mechanism by which endothelial dysfunction contributes to vascular damage and fibrosis through endothelial cell-pericyte interactions.

Dr. Sarah X. Zhang is UB Distinguished Professor in the department of Ophthalmology and holds adjunct Professor positions in the departments of Biochemistry and Biological Science. Dr. Zhang was trained as a retinal specialist and a vision research scientist. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of cellular stress response in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and ischemic/glaucomatous retinal disease. Her laboratory is also interested in developing novel therapeutics and technologies through collaborations for early diagnosis and treatment of vision-threatening retinal disease.