Helping retinal support cells regrow cone photoreceptors
Elucidating and bypassing molecular mechanisms that suppress Muller glia-dependent regeneration of cones in two zebrafish models of chronic retinal damage
This project tests whether activating Müller glia, the retina's support cells, can regrow cone photoreceptors to help people with degenerative vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285155 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers are using zebrafish models that mimic rapid and slow cone loss to learn why damaged human-like retinas do not naturally rebuild cone cells. They will try short-term acute injury and molecular triggers to turn on Müller glia, and study how immune cells (microglia) affect that response. The team will map gene activity and chromatin state (using techniques like ATAC-seq) and manipulate candidate molecules to bypass blocks to regeneration. The work is laboratory-based in zebrafish and aims to identify signals that could guide future therapies for people with retinal degeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with progressive cone photoreceptor loss or retinal degenerations that cause central vision decline (for example certain inherited cone dystrophies or macular degenerations) would be the kinds of patients who might benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision loss is due to optic nerve damage, brain injury, or non-retinal causes are unlikely to benefit from approaches that aim to regenerate retinal photoreceptors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to ways to stimulate a person’s own retinal cells to replace lost cones and potentially restore vision.
How similar studies have performed: Zebrafish naturally regenerate retinal neurons and previous animal studies have shown that stimulating Müller glia can restore photoreceptors in fish, but translating these findings to mammals and humans has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Notre Dame, United States
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyde, David R — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Hyde, David R
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.