Retinal cell grafts to restore sight in AMD and RP
Official title: Integration and functionality of retinal organoid transplants
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11641966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused program aims to replace damaged retinal cells with organized, transplant-ready sheets created from stem cells to improve vision in age-related macular degeneration and related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,676,561 |
| NIH project number | 2R56EY031834-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11641966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with advanced AMD or RP who have sufficient residual retinal structure and are candidates for future cell-replacement therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without candidate retina structures or those not eligible for cell-based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced 3D bioprinting to create organized retinal grafts that combine photoreceptor precursors with a supportive RPE layer. The team will test these grafts in models to understand how they restore structure and function in the retina, aiming to move toward therapies for people with degenerative eye diseases. It builds on prior work showing potential vision improvement and uses a high-throughput fabrication approach to create precise, patient-relevant grafts. The research focuses on translating organoid-based retinal tissue into a transplant-ready format that could one day be offered to patients with AMD or RP.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to transplantable retinal tissue that helps restore or preserve vision for people with AMD or RP.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed improved vision in degeneration models; this project extends those findings toward transplant-ready organoid grafts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seiler, Magdalene J — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Seiler, Magdalene J
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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.