Understanding how retinal cells function during degeneration
Official title: Physiology of Retinal Degeneration
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11021719 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how light-sensitive cells in the eye change when they start to break down, using mice with inherited eye diseases to understand how some vision can still work even as these cells are lost, which could help in developing new treatments to improve vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $624,230 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY036811-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11021719 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with inherited retinal diseases, particularly those experiencing rod cell degeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with retinal degeneration caused by non-genetic factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the physiological changes in retinal cells, particularly photoreceptors, as they undergo degeneration. By using advanced techniques like single-cell recording, the study aims to document how rod cells respond to light and maintain their function despite cell loss. The research focuses on mouse models of inherited retinal diseases to gain insights into the mechanisms that allow some visual processing to continue even as degeneration progresses. This knowledge could inform future therapies aimed at restoring vision.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help preserve vision in patients with retinal degeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding retinal cell function in degenerative conditions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sampath, Alapakkam P — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Sampath, Alapakkam P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
-
Systems genetics of vascular smooth muscle phenotypes in heart disease
Aims to understand how genetic differences influence vascular smooth muscle cells to improve prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease.
-
Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
-
Overcoming CAR T cell resistance with tumor-targeted IL-12 to boost anti-tumor immunity
Aims to make CAR T cell therapy work better for solid tumors by using tumor-focused IL-12 to boost the body’s attack on cancer.
-
PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
-
Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa
A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.
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.