Why the nerves that move the eyes develop differently
Determinants of extraocular motor neuron subtype diversity
Researchers are using zebrafish to find genes that shape the nerves that control eye movement to help people with congenital misaligned eyes (strabismus).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370212 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team will use small zebrafish larvae to make a detailed map of which genes are active in different types of eye-movement nerve cells as they develop. They will pick genes that differ between nerve subtypes and test what happens when those genes are changed, watching how the nerves grow and connect to eye muscles. The researchers will also look at how those changes affect eye movement behavior in the fish. The goal is to link specific genes to the anatomy and behavior that can cause congenital, gaze-dependent misalignment of the eyes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with congenital or familial strabismus, or families affected by early-onset eye misalignment who are willing to share genetic information or samples, are the most relevant candidates to benefit from or contribute to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose eye misalignment is acquired later in life from injury, stroke, or non-genetic causes are less likely to gain direct benefit from this genetic and developmental research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal genes that cause congenital strabismus and enable better genetic diagnosis and targets for future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related genetic and zebrafish studies have identified some genes linked to congenital eye movement disorders, but many forms remain unexplained so this approach builds on promising but incomplete prior work.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schoppik, David — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Schoppik, David
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 below.