A transplant approach to repair sight loss from macular degeneration
Official title: Developing photoreceptor repair for macular degeneration therapy.
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11166382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The project aims to replace damaged light-sensing cells and their supporting retinal cells to help people with dry age-related macular degeneration regain vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $347,472 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033103-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The eventual candidates would be adults with dry (atrophic) age-related macular degeneration and central vision loss, typically older adults.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is preclinical work in mice, patients will not receive direct treatment now, and people with other forms of vision loss (for example, wet AMD or extensive retinal scarring) are less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are using a mouse model that mimics dry age-related macular degeneration to test transplanting cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. They will track how donor cone cells mature over time and how the age of the recipient eye affects transplant success. The team will identify signals from specific host cell types that help or hinder functional vision repair. Although the work is done in animals, it focuses directly on the cell types that fail in older adults with central vision loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to cell-transplant treatments that restore central vision for people with dry (atrophic) age-related macular degeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies of photoreceptor and RPE cell transplantation have shown promising functional effects in preclinical models, but translation to human treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Mandeep — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Singh, Mandeep
Related research
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Active cycling program to support vision and daily living in Veterans with AMD
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Transplanting stem-cell–derived retinal cells to treat dry AMD
A medical team is testing a stem cell therapy to replace damaged retinal cells in adults with dry age-related macular degeneration.
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RPESC-derived RPE Transplant for Dry AMD in adults
A new cell-based therapy derived from RPESCs is being tested to help adults with dry age-related macular degeneration regain vision.
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New high-resolution OCT biomarkers to map early AMD changes
A new imaging approach using advanced OCT methods will help doctors see early changes in age-related macular degeneration to guide treatment and improve quality of life for older adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.