Previously, we found that regulating VEGFR2 signaling in retinal endothelial cells by gene-therapy approaches was associated with reduced IVNV and increased peripheral intraretinal vascularization in the rat OIR model, a translational model that recapitulates aspects of human ROP [13]; however, we found that knockdown of STAT3, a downstream effector of VEGF-triggered signaling, in retinal endothelial cells was associated with reduced IVNV in the rat OIR model but not increased intraretinal peripheral vascularization [14]. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and retinopathy of prematurity.