Retinal nerve signals and energy: how your eye cells talk when energy changes
Official title: Retinal Ganglion Cell Signaling Regulated By Intrinsic Reactive Oxygen Species
Funded at Doheny Eye Institute · NIH-11308667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at the Dohoeny Eye Institute will look at how retinal ganglion cells respond to light when their energy balance changes, to better understand conditions that can lead to vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Doheny Eye Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $392,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033905-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with retinal diseases where energy metabolism may impact cell survival and signaling, or who could contribute tissue samples for study.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without retinal disease or those not contributing tissue samples related to retinal energy metabolism may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how the energy state inside retinal cells affects how they respond to light and communicate signals. Researchers will explore how intrinsic metabolic activity changes the light-response features of ganglion cells under controlled oxidative conditions. The goal is to map how metabolic stress might alter vision, especially in diseases that threaten retinal cells. The work uses animal/human tissue models to connect cellular energetics with meaningful changes in visual signaling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could clarify why retinal cells fail in some eye diseases and guide therapies to preserve vision.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows metabolic state can influence neuronal signaling, but the link to retinal ganglion cell energy regulation is being explored in this grant.
Where this research is happening
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Doheny Eye Institute
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barnes, Steven Andrew — Doheny Eye Institute
- Study coordinator: Barnes, Steven Andrew
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.