Understanding how the retina adapts after gene therapy to restore vision
Official title: The contribution of plasticity to the recovery of retinal function following gene therapy
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11408824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the retina adapts after gene therapy in people with inherited retinal conditions to help improve and sustain vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00EY033858-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408824 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with inherited retinal degenerations who might benefit from cone-based gene therapies could be impacted in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Results from mouse studies may not yet translate to immediate benefits for all patients.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a mouse model of achromatopsia to study how surviving retinal cells reorganize their connections after cone-targeted gene therapy. They will examine how ON and OFF visual pathways process spatial and temporal information after treatment and look at synaptic changes in cone bipolar cells and transmitter release. The goal is to uncover the mechanisms of retinal plasticity that support lasting visual improvements and to translate these findings toward more reliable therapies for patients with inherited retinal degenerations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more durable and robust restoration of vision after gene therapy for retinal diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that retinal plasticity can influence functional recovery after gene therapy, with ongoing efforts to translate to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Joo Yeun — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Joo Yeun
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.