Ultraflexible electrodes to stimulate the brain's visual relay (LGN) to restore sight
Official title: Longitudinal neuronal and behavioral responses to microstimulation of LGN by ultraflexible electrodes
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11262210 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses ultrathin, flexible electrodes to stimulate the brain's visual relay (the LGN) to create sight-like patterns for people with severe vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $594,344 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036094-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262210 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with severe vision loss or blindness who cannot benefit from retinal implants, such as those with extensive eye or optic nerve damage.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild, correctable vision problems or those whose blindness is caused by brain damage beyond the LGN may not receive benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will implant NanoElectronic Threads (NETs), ultraflexible electrodes, into the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), the brain's relay between the eye and visual cortex. They will deliver microstimulation and record neuronal and behavioral responses over time to see whether stimulation produces stable, patterned perceptions. Most work will be done in animal models to test tissue compatibility, long-term stability, and the amount of visual field coverage that can be achieved. The goal is to develop a safe, long-lasting LGN-based visual prosthesis that could reach patients who cannot benefit from retinal devices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a new brain-based visual prosthesis that restores patterned vision for people with severe blindness not helped by current retinal devices.
How similar studies have gone: Retinal and cortical prostheses have given limited vision to some patients and animal work shows thalamic stimulation can evoke phosphenes, but using ultraflexible NETs for long-term LGN implants is a novel and mainly preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luan, Lan — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Luan, Lan
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.