Abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina is a pathological feature in numerous blinding diseases. It is therefore important to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control vascular growth in the retina. We combine human tissue analysis and murine model systems based on reverse genetics and transgenic approaches to study the role of specific genes in development and disease of the retinal vasculature. We are particularly interested in interactions between blood vessels and the non-vascular components of the retina such as glial cells, neurons and the retinal pigment epithelium which are known to play important roles in controlling vessel behaviour in the retina. Knowledge gained from such basic research will be an important foundation for the development of future therapeutic approaches aiming to cure vascular pathologies in the human retina.