Disclosed are vectors and compositions comprising a pol II promoter and an shRNA wherein the shRNA has a sense RNA strand and an antisense RNA strand, wherein the sense and the antisense RNA strands form an RNA duplex, and wherein the sense RNA strand comprises a nucleotide sequence identical to a target sequence in STAT3, VEGFR, or EPOR. Also disclosed are methods of treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), methods of inhibiting expression of STAT3, VEGFR, and EPOR, and methods of regulating signaling events associated with intravitreal neovascularization (IVNV).
