How retinal nerve cells find their place and make connections
Transcriptional Control of Neuronal Position and Connection in the Retina
This project looks at the genes that help retinal nerve cells settle in the right layer and form the correct connections so vision works properly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094061 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses starburst amacrine cells in the retina as a model to understand how genes control where nerve cells sit and who they connect with. The team uses genetically engineered mice, including a conditional Fezf1 knockout, to see how changing one gene affects cell position and wiring. They map gene-regulatory activity with methods like ATAC-seq and compare normal and misplaced cells to find the molecular switches behind correct connections. The goal is to link specific transcriptional changes to miswiring that can cause vision problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although the work is primarily lab-based in animals and is not recruiting patients, the findings are most relevant to people with congenital or developmental retinal disorders that disrupt neuronal layering and wiring.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is caused mainly by vascular disease, inflammation, or optic nerve damage unrelated to retinal neuron positioning are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify molecular targets or strategies to prevent or repair retinal wiring problems that lead to vision impairment or blindness.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked some genes to retinal cell placement, but combining conditional genetics with chromatin-mapping to connect placement to specific wiring patterns is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Yi-Rong — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Peng, Yi-Rong
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.