Rebuilding the eye-to-brain connections to restore vision
Optic Nerve Relays for Vision Restoration and Advancement Optic Nerve Regeneration Research
This project uses stem-cell-derived neurons to reconnect damaged optic nerves so adults with optic nerve injuries or related blindness might regain sight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11122230 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are growing neural stem cells and placing them into injured optic nerves to form new neuronal relays between the eye and the brain. They will test whether these transplanted cells can restore vision-related signals over the long term and work on ways to guide the new nerve fibers through the optic chiasm to the right brain targets. The team combines laboratory experiments and animal models to measure recovery of visual responses and to study molecular cues that steer growing axons. This is focused on approaches that could eventually enable whole-eye transplants or other regenerative treatments for severe optic nerve damage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with severe optic nerve injury or optic neuropathies causing irreversible vision loss would be the primary future candidates for these therapies.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss is primarily due to problems in the eye structures (for example, cataracts or isolated retinal photoreceptor loss) rather than damaged optic nerve connections are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable new regenerative therapies that restore vision by rebuilding the damaged optic nerve pathway.
How similar studies have performed: Related stem-cell relay approaches have restored function in animal spinal cord injury models and early preclinical optic nerve work shows promise, but this has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welsbie, Derek Stuart — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Welsbie, Derek Stuart
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.