Soluble VEGFR-2 as an Endogenous Inhibitor of Retinal Lymphatics

The goals of this project are to (1) define the mechanisms underlying the alymphatic nature of the retina by developing novel insights into the biology of the endogenous lymphangiogenesis inhibitor soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2); and (2) enable the principal investigator to develop the skills and experiences necessary to become an independent physician-scientist with a focus on studying ocular angiogenesis.