Tools to run biochemistry experiments for people who are blind
Official title: Creating tools to make experimental biochemistry accessible to people with blindness
Funded at Baylor University · NIH-11332929 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grant to develop accessible lab tools so adults who are blind or have low vision can perform and publish real biomolecular experiments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $548,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036371-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332929 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who are blind or have low vision and have an interest in hands-on biomolecular research.
✕Less likely to help
Adults without blindness or low vision may not benefit from the accessibility improvements.
What this research studies
This project aims to redesign common lab equipment and data displays so people with blindness or low vision can conduct hands-on biomolecular experiments. It includes developing 3D-printed assistive devices, tactile interfaces, and universal design solutions for techniques like SDS-PAGE, protein purification, PCR, and data readouts. The team will also use these accessible tools to explore ALS-related biology, including SOD1 interactions and mitochondrial enzymes, and to generate publishable results. The effort combines device development with actual hypothesis-driven biology to empower BLV researchers to contribute to science.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, BLV individuals could actively participate in real experiments, generate data, and contribute to ALS and redox biology research.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows that accessible lab tools can enable participation, but this project expands to full experimental workflows and publishable outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor University
Waco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Bryan F. — Baylor University
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Bryan F.
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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.