Investigating human retinal microglia using a chimeric model
Official title: Chimeric model for study of human retinal microglia in vivo
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11036722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how human immune cells called microglia behave in the retina by using newborn mice to see how these cells respond to injury, which could help us understand more about eye diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $247,700 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY037023-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with retinal diseases or conditions that affect retinal health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to retinal health or those who are not within the age range of 0-4 weeks or 21+ years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the behavior and characteristics of human retinal microglia, which are crucial immune cells in the central nervous system. By introducing human stem cell-derived progenitor cells into the brains of newborn mice, researchers will create a model to study how these human microglia integrate and respond to injury in the retina. The study will involve assessing the distribution and impact of these cells on retinal health and using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze their gene expression. This approach could provide valuable insights into how human microglia function in the context of retinal diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for retinal diseases affecting human patients.
How similar studies have gone: While research on rodent models of microglia is well-established, this approach to studying human retinal microglia in vivo is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vetter, Monica L — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Vetter, Monica L
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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.