title: Using current data to define new approach in age related macular degeneration: need to accelerate translational research.
abstract: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major retinal degenerative disease of ageing whose complex genetic basis remains undeciphered. The involvement of various other factors like mitochondrial genes, cytoskeletal proteins and the role of epigenetics has been described in this review. Several population based AMD genetic studies have been carried out worldwide. Despite the increased publication of reports, clinical translation still eludes this davastating disease. We suggest models to address roadblocks in clinical translation hoping that these would be beneficial to drive AMD research towards innovative biomarkers and therapeutics Therefore, addressing the need large autopsy studies and combining it with efficient use of bioinformatic tools, statistical modeling and probing SNP-biomarker association are key to time bound resolution of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Kaushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration and Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: Neel Kamal
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Sharma
keywords: Age related macular degeneration; Bio-informatics.; Biomarkers; Epigenetics; Mitochondrial genes; SNP; Translational research