PANDORA

Doctoral network on discovering pathomechanisms and novel drug optimization for AMD

01.10.2026 bis 30.09.2030

PANDORA will create a multidisciplinary, intersectoral European Doctoral Network focusing on complement systemmediated
pathomechanisms and therapy development for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD, major cause
of blindness in the elderly population, affects daily activities of ca. 200 million people worldwide, placing a major
burden on national health systems and impairing patients’ quality of life. The complement system, known for its
role in innate immune surveillance, is a major pathogenic driver in AMD, also involved in various other diseases,
including sepsis, neurodegenerative, kidney, vascular diseases and cancer. We and others have recently demonstrated
the importance of locally produced complement factors and non-canonical complement functions in the retina, affecting
energy metabolism, protein degradation, mitochondrial stability, autophagy and lysophagy, which are found to be
impaired in AMD.
PANDORA will exploit state-of-the art model systems and techniques, including ex vivo multicellular, stem-cell derived
and murine models, omics, imaging, biochemistry, histology, functional assays and computational modelling, to study in
depth the different complement functions relevant to AMD and to find potential biomarkers for stratification and disease
monitoring. PANDORA further aims to develop innovative therapeutic approaches, using gene therapy, compound
screening, optimizing drug delivery to the retina, and a novel ultra-high resolution multimodality imaging system to
monitor disease progression and treatment efficacy in vivo and in patients. PANDORA will train Doctoral Candidates
as the next generation of European translational scientists in vision and medical research, and provides every student
with the tools for a successful scientific career in academia or industry. Our multidisciplinary network offers a unique
opportunity to expand the understanding and therapeutics for AMD in Europe, and to bring research findings to benefit
for patients.