Abstract: The invention is based, in part, upon the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes located in promoter and intronic sequences (e.g., intron 2) of the roundabout, axon guidance receptor, homolog 1 (ROBO1) gene that are significantly associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk. The invention relates to methods and compositions for determining whether an individual is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration by detecting whether the individual has a protective or risk variant of the ROBO1 gene.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the RORA gene. A protective or risk variant may be defined by a haplotype in the RORA gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to allelic variants and haplotypes of the Complement Factor H (CFH) gene, the Complement Component 3 (C3) gene, and the Complement Factor D (CFD) gene, associated with either an elevated or a reduced risk that an individual will develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), methods of diagnosing such risk in an individual based on the presence or absence of such variants, and methods and reagents for diagnosis and treatment of AMD.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether an individual is at risk of developing, or has, one or more angiogenic disorders. The methods detect the presence and/or amount of one or more genes or gene products in a sample, including a RORA, CRIM1, CXCR4, C5orf26, IGHG3, NALP2, PLA2G4A, IGLJ3, SHQ1, UCHL1, TANC1, PKP2, DNAJC6, C6orf105, NALP1, RGS13, CXCL13, RPS6KA2, MMP7, IL1A, ABCA1, VCAN, KIAA0888, ENPP2, and FAM38B gene or gene product. In addition, the invention provides methods for using one or more of these genes or gene products as a target for preventing or delaying the onset of one or more angiogenic disorders or treating a patient with one or more such disorders. The angiogenic disorder can be, for example, an ocular angiogenic disorder, for example, a disorder associated with choroidal neovascularization, for example, age-related macular degeneration.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.