How genes guide retinal cells to form
Gene regulation of retinal cell differentiation
Researchers are mapping how key eye-development genes help retinal progenitor cells become the different cell types of the retina to inform care for people born with eye malformations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195664 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone affected by an eye condition, this work looks at the genes that tell early retinal cells what to become. The team studies important developmental genes (like Six3, Six6, Sox2, and Pax6) using mouse and cell models and modern lab methods to see where these proteins bind DNA and how they change chromatin structure. They use techniques such as CUT&RUN to find direct binding sites, single-cell ATAC sequencing to look at accessibility in individual cells, and protein-complex mapping to see what molecular partners these factors use. The goal is to understand the molecular instructions that let retinal progenitor cells remain flexible and produce all retinal cell types.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People born with congenital eye conditions such as microphthalmia, anophthalmia, or coloboma (or families affected by these conditions) would be most relevant to the biological questions and potential future studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose vision loss comes from unrelated acquired diseases (for example, typical age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy) are less likely to directly benefit from these developmental-focused findings in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to molecular targets for diagnosing, preventing, or eventually treating congenital retinal malformations and inform future regenerative approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and laboratory studies have shown these transcription factors are essential for eye development, but directly mapping their targets and chromatin interactions at high resolution is more recent and still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Wei — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Liu, Wei
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.