Testing new drugs using human eye tissues to improve vision treatments
Official title: Drug Screening Platform in the Light-Responsive Human Eye
Funded at Eyescreen, INC. · NIH-11068683 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to test potential eye treatments using real human eye tissues to see how safe and effective they are for people with vision problems, aiming to find better therapies while reducing the need for animal testing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Eyescreen, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $306,118 |
| NIH project number | 1R43EY037154-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11068683 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for or suffering from age-related macular degeneration or other retinal degenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-age-related vision issues or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a drug screening platform that utilizes functionally viable human donor eye tissues to test the safety and efficacy of new investigational drugs for blinding diseases. By maintaining the functionality of these eye tissues for over 48 hours, the research aims to provide a more accurate preclinical assessment of how these drugs can protect human retinal cells from damage. This approach seeks to reduce reliance on animal testing and improve the chances of successful translation of new therapies into clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases, ultimately preserving vision for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there are numerous ongoing trials for retinal diseases, this specific approach using human eye tissues for drug screening is relatively novel and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Eyescreen, INC.
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Jordan — Eyescreen, INC.
- Study coordinator: Allen, Jordan
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.