ST. LOUIS, MO – December 17, 2024 — Mitsu Yoshida, MD, PhD, a researcher at WashU Medicine, has been named the recipient of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation (VRSF) Research Fellowship. Yoshida’s project, titled “The role of adipokine-regulated lipid mediator in age-related retinal dysfunction and disease“, aims to uncover novel mechanisms linking systemic aging to retinal degeneration, with transformative implications for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) prevention and care.
AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in aging populations, posing a significant and growing public health challenge. While omega-3 fatty acids—such as DHA and EPA—are linked to reduced AMD risk, clinical trials on supplementation have produced inconclusive results, highlighting the need for deeper investigation. Yoshida’s study explores a groundbreaking hypothesis: that age-related dysfunction in adipose tissue disrupts adipokine-mediated regulation of retinal DHA metabolism, reducing neuroprotective lipid mediators like NPD1 and fostering inflammation that exacerbates AMD progression.
“By using innovative mouse models and molecular profiling, we aim to clarify how systemic aging influences retinal health. Our findings could uncover critical mechanisms that redefine therapeutic strategies, addressing the broader metabolic context of AMD.”
Mitsu Yoshida, MD, PhD
This research leverages cutting-edge technologies to investigate adipokine regulation, lipid metabolism, and inflammation in retinal degeneration. The insights gained have the potential to transform AMD prevention and treatment by identifying new targets that restore retinal lipid homeostasis and reduce age-related inflammation.
The VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Research Fellowship recognizes exceptional vision scientists advancing innovative and impactful ophthalmic research. Yoshida’s award highlights WashU Medicine’s ongoing dedication to pioneering research that improves patient outcomes and addresses major public health challenges.
Mitsu Yoshida, MD, PhD is a current resident physician in the Academic Scholar Advancement Program (ASAP) in the Department of Anesthesiology and conducts research in Dr. Rajendra Apte’s Lab at WashU Medicine.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.