Treatment of the eye disease, retinopathy, aims to reduce the formation of blood vessels in the retina of the eye. To reduce unwanted side effects of such treatments, researchers in Lena Claesson-Welsh’s research group have tested to inhibit the enzyme eNOS and found a reduced formation of dysfunctional vessels in mice with retinopathy while the healthy vasculature in the retina was preserved. The study highlights the importance of targeted approaches in medicine.

The body’s lymphatic vessel system consists of specialised vessels whose function are critical for absorbing and transporting fluid. Taija Mäkinen’s group at IGP have identified a mechanism for how collecting lymphatic vessels are formed in mice, which could help to develop treatments for lymphatic diseases.

To some extent, genetic factors influence whether an individual attends college or university after finishing secondary school. In a recently published study, researchers at IGP have found that genetic factors have a larger effect on the probability to attain an higher education in more socioeconomically deprived areas. The study was published in American Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.