Toward a Therapeutic Target for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

The biggest challenge faced by a surgeon repairing a detached retina is proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the formation of fibrotic membranes on the surface of the retina. PVR increases the risk of both failed RD repair surgery and poor visual outcomes from the procedure. Currently, there are no medications to prevent or treat PVR.

As a vitreoretinal surgeon and a researcher focused on drug design and development, Thomas Wubben, M.D., Ph.D., is driven to pursue novel interventions for PVR.

Thomas Wubben, M.D., Ph.D.

His latest effort focuses on pyruvate kinase isozyme M2 (PKM2), an enzyme expressed in various tissue and tumor cells throughout the body, including the cells of the retina.

“In PVR, PKM2 appears to drive a reprogramming of the metabolism of RPE cells that results in fibrotic retinal membranes,” Dr. Wubben explains. “We hope a better understanding of how PKM2 drives this metabolic reprogramming will help us develop new therapeutics to prevent PVR and vision loss in patients afflicted with this blinding surgical complication.”

The project has earned a Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB). The award supports the independent research of promising junior faculty from the country’s top academic ophthalmology programs.