Restoring vision by regenerating optic nerve connections
Official title: Optic Nerve Relays for Vision Restoration and Advancement Optic Nerve Regeneration Research
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10869137 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to help people who have lost their vision due to eye diseases by using special cells to repair the connections between the eye and the brain, which could lead to better treatments for blindness.
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 start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $499,116 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY036155-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10869137 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who have experienced vision loss due to optic nerve injuries or retinal diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with vision loss due to conditions unrelated to optic nerve damage or those who are not eligible for stem cell therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop therapies that can restore vision lost due to optic neuropathies and retinal diseases by regenerating the neural pathways between the eye and the brain. The approach involves using neural stem cells (NSCs) to create neuronal relays in the optic nerve, which could potentially enable whole eye transplants. The study will measure how well these NSC-derived relays can recover visual function and explore methods to guide the axons of these neurons to their correct targets in the visual system. Patients may benefit from advancements in treatments for blindness that currently have no effective therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that restore vision for individuals suffering from irreversible blindness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using neural stem cells for restoring function in other areas of the nervous system, suggesting potential success in this novel approach for vision restoration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Do, Jiun Lap — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Do, Jiun Lap
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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.