The D'Amore laboratory has a long-standing interest in the regulation of vascular development and pathology. One major area has involved investigating the role and regulation of VEGF in adult vascular and non-vascular cells. More recently, her laboratory has been examining the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. The laboratory is currently focused in three general areas. Two of those relate to understanding the molecular basis of blood vessel stabilization. One project is examining the role of Notch signaling in the stabilization of the microvasculature and the effect of diabetes on this signaling. A related project is aimed at elucidating other mechanisms that may mediate pericyte stabilization of the capillaries. Studies in both research areas are utilizing genetic model as well as tissues culture systems. A second project is examining a novel endothelial-specific molecule endomucin in the regulation of leukocyte-endothelial interactions, a central and early step in the inflammatory process. A third research focus deals with the contribution of inflammation in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and involves studying the role of the inflammasome in the retinal pigment epithelium.