Genes that control when retinal cells and Müller glia develop
Identification of gene regulatory networks controlling temporal patterning in retinal progenitor cells and neurogenic Müller glia
This project looks at genes that tell retinal progenitor cells and Müller glia when to make different kinds of eye cells, aiming to help people with retinal damage or blindness.
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-11122356 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my viewpoint as a patient, the researchers are using single-cell RNA sequencing and ATAC-seq to read which genes are active and which parts of DNA are open in developing retinal cells. They will turn candidate genes on and off in the lab to see how those changes shift which cell types are made and how cells behave. The team will measure changes in cell mix, gene activity, and chromatin structure to map the networks that control timing. If some factors show strong effects, they will study exactly how those factors work to control cell division and neurogenesis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults with retinal degeneration or people willing to donate retinal tissue or clinical samples for research at the study site.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or surgical fixes are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory-based basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to encourage retinal repair or cell-replacement therapies for blindness.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-cell and ATAC-seq studies have mapped retinal cell types and suggested regulatory factors, but turning those findings into therapies remains at an early, experimental stage.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blackshaw, Seth — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Blackshaw, Seth
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.