A transplant approach to repair sight loss from macular degeneration
Developing photoreceptor repair for macular degeneration therapy.
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 ID | NIH-11166382 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The eventual candidates would be adults with dry (atrophic) age-related macular degeneration and central vision loss, typically older adults.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singh, Mandeep — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Singh, Mandeep
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 below.