Description

The objective of this Research Line is to help reduce visual disability caused by retinal and macular diseases through a deeper understanding of their etiopathogenetic mechanisms, with the aim of identifying key biomarkers of disease progression and, consequently, developing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Retinal diseases are among the most frequent causes of visual loss in the adult population, with a significant social impact.

Premise

The most common retinal and macular diseases with high social impact include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusions, vitreoretinal interface disorders, and chorioretinal diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy, among others. Understanding their etiopathogenetic mechanisms through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach — using in vitro and in vivo experimental models and clinical research with the most innovative imaging techniques — allows for optimal characterization of patients with retinal diseases. The ultimate goal is to identify appropriate personalized therapeutic approaches and to foster innovation in new therapeutic strategies and surgical tools for vitreoretinal surgery.

Rationale

The major retinal and macular diseases have a significant social impact, leading to progressive visual dysfunction. Identifying biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response is a priority of this Research Line. Based on our own findings and existing literature, the aim is to investigate the underlying etiopathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases using in vitro and in vivo experimental models, and to identify innovative morpho-functional diagnostic procedures that can contribute to understanding these processes.

On one hand, identifying increasingly sensitive and specific diagnostic methods would help reduce socio-healthcare costs; on the other, understanding pathophysiological mechanisms could support the development of new therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing visual disability and improving patients’ quality of life. Additionally, studying the fluid dynamics of the vitreous body through experimental models aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of current vitreoretinal surgical tools, with the possibility of improving them.

Objectives

• Study of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of chorioretinal diseases through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach combining in vitro experimental models and clinical research
• Identification and validation of innovative diagnostic procedures to understand the main etiopathogenetic mechanisms of retinal diseases, and to identify key morphological and functional risk factors contributing to disease development and progression
• Identification of biomarkers useful for defining diagnostic and prognostic factors and treatment response in major chorioretinal diseases
• Identification of effective new therapeutic opportunities and contributing factors for choosing the most appropriate therapeutic approach

RC 2025 Research

• Study of experimental models of major ocular diseases in vivo and in vitro
• Therapeutic approaches to vitreoretinal diseases
• Multimodal diagnostic evaluation of major vitreoretinal diseases
• Study of vitreoretinal diseases through clinical and diagnostic-instrumental investigations, combined with biomolecular laboratory analysis and tissue bioengineering of the affected ocular structures

Expected Results