Investigating how the brain can adapt to artificial visual signals in blind mice
Official title: Optical thalamic prosthesis analog for investigating V1 plasticity in blind adult mice
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10770457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new type of eye prosthesis that could help the brain of blind mice learn to understand artificial visual signals, which might lead to better vision aids for people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $204,688 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EY034297-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10770457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who have experienced vision loss and are interested in potential treatments involving visual prosthetics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that affect the thalamocortical circuitry or those who are not candidates for visual prosthetic devices may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the potential of a new optical prosthesis to help the brain adapt to artificial visual signals in blind adult mice. By focusing on the primary visual cortex, the study aims to understand how the brain can reconfigure itself to process these signals effectively. The approach involves using advanced neuroprosthetic technology to simulate visual input and assess the brain's plasticity in response to this stimulation. This could provide insights into improving visual prosthetics for humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to advancements in visual prosthetics that enhance the ability of individuals with vision loss to interpret artificial visual information.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant progress in neuroprosthetic devices for hearing, this specific approach to visual prosthetics in adults is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Hey-Kyoung — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Hey-Kyoung
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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.