Regrowing the eye's nerve cells that carry vision signals
Official title: Development and Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Vertebrate Retina
Funded at Bates College · NIH-11167846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores ways to regrow the retinal nerve cells that send visual signals to the brain to help people with glaucoma or optic nerve injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Bates College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lewiston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $248,755 |
| NIH project number | 5R00EY031403-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Eventually, patients with vision loss from glaucoma or damage to the optic nerve would be the most likely candidates for treatments based on this research.
✕Less likely to help
People whose vision loss is caused by damage in the brain (rather than the retina) or by non-neuronal eye disorders may not benefit from these approaches.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how retinal ganglion cells — the neurons that link the eye to the brain — develop and whether they can be regenerated. The team uses mouse models with a specific gene turned off in ganglion cells and also tries overexpressing key genes in retinal progenitor cells inside the eye. They will screen a list of candidate transcription factors by forcing them on in the retina to see if normal retinal cells can be reprogrammed to become new ganglion cells. The goal is to find biological switches that could one day be turned into therapies to replace lost vision-related neurons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that restore vision by regenerating the retinal ganglion cells lost in glaucoma or optic nerve injury.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal research has shown some promise for reprogramming retinal cells into neurons, but turning those findings into safe, effective human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
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Bates College
Lewiston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woodworth, Mollie Burgoon — Bates College
- Study coordinator: Woodworth, Mollie Burgoon
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.