Intravitreal AAV-IKV Mediated Delivery of Decorin Inhibits Choroidal Neovascularization, Fibrosis, Inflammation and Elevates Autophagy.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. The exudative or wet form of AMD is caused by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and subsequently a macular edema. Wet AMD can be effectively treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies.

Retinal Penetrating Adeno-Associated Virus.

Purpose: The most common method of delivery of genes to the outer retina uses recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) injected into the subretinal space using a surgical procedure. In contrast, most drugs are delivered to the retina using an intravitreal approach in an office setting. The objective of the current study was to develop AAV vectors that can reach the outer retina via intravitreal injection.

Cell-Penetrating Chaperone Nuc1 for Small- and Large-Molecule Delivery Into Retinal Cells and Tissues.

Purpose: There are currently no means available for the efficient delivery of recombinant proteins into retinal cells in vivo. Although cell-penetrating peptides have been somewhat effective in protein delivery to the retina, they generally require conjugation chemistry with the payload, negatively impacting function of the therapeutic protein. In this study, we developed a novel peptide (Nuc1) that acts as a chaperone for delivery of small and large molecules, including steroids, peptides, antibodies, recombinant proteins, and viruses (adeno-associated viruses [AAVs]) across biological membranes in vivo without the need for conjugation.

Adaptable three-pin skull clamp for large animal research.

Traditionally, surgical head immobilization for neurobiological research with large animals is achieved using stereotaxic frames. Despite their widespread use, these frames are bulky, expensive, and inflexible, ultimately limiting surgical access and preventing research groups from practicing surgical approaches used to treat humans. Here, we designed a mobile, low-cost, three-pin skull clamp for performing a variety of neurosurgical procedures on non-human primates.

Public and Population Health in U.S. Medical Education: A Review of Guidance in Extraordinary Times.

Generations of medical educators have recommended including public and population health (PPH) content in the training of U.S. physicians.