Using tiny RNA signals to help retinal cells and restore vision
Official title: The Role of Retinal Progenitor microRNAs for Late-stage Progenitor Cell State and Muller Glia Reprogramming
Funded at State College of Optometry · NIH-11345288 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at tiny genetic switches called microRNAs to guide retinal cell development and turn support cells into working vision cells for people at risk of blindness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State College of Optometry NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $405,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY032532-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345288 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with retinal degenerative conditions that destroy photoreceptors—such as age-related macular degeneration or some inherited retinal diseases—are the types of patients who might eventually benefit from this line of research.
✕Less likely to help
People whose vision loss is due primarily to optic nerve damage, brain injury, or extensive retinal scarring are unlikely to benefit from therapies that target retinal cell reprogramming.
What this research studies
This project looks for the specific microRNAs that help retinal cells form and work correctly, using mouse models to learn which signals are needed during development. Scientists will remove microRNA production in retinal progenitor cells to see what goes wrong, then test adding back individual microRNAs to try to reprogram Müller glia (support cells) into bipolar cells and rod photoreceptors. They will examine tissue structure and perform functional tests to see whether reprogrammed cells behave like normal retinal neurons. The findings are meant to identify microRNA candidates that could be developed into future treatments to prevent or repair vision loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to replace or repair lost retinal cells and slow or reverse blindness from diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown microRNAs influence retinal development and some labs have reprogrammed Müller glia in mice, but translating these findings into human treatments remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
State College of Optometry
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wohl, Stefanie G — State College of Optometry
- Study coordinator: Wohl, Stefanie G
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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.