The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) has announced two $100,000 grants for Duke Eye Center researchers Sina Farsiu, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering and Goldis Malek, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology and pathology.

Both grants will help fund Duke Eye Center’s goal of finding a cure for age-related macular degeneration.

Farsiu was awarded a $100,000 grant for his work entitled "Automatic Measurement of Wet AMD's Imaging Biomarkers."

Malek’s $100,000 grant was awarded for her research into investigating the role of oxidant activated nuclear receptors in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cell injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, and sub-RPE deposit formation, key features of early age-related macular degeneration.

This funding helps to ensure the Duke Eye Center remains a world-wide leader in the field of macular degeneration research and translating that research into the latest techniques for treatment of macular degeneration.

AHAF is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to funding research towards understanding, treatment, and prevention of macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and glaucoma. More information on the American Health Assistance Foundation is available at ahaf.org.