Four teams receive funding for eye transplantation research
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health announced funding worth up to $125 million to help four teams research eye transplantation, according to a press release.
The funding is from the agency’s Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program and aims to help the research teams develop the first complete transplant of human eyes, according to the release. Renee Wegrzyn, PhD, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), said the program is focused on restoring lost vision.
“THEA intends to revolutionize the reconnection of nerves to the brain and develop breakthroughs in transplantation, preservation and neuroscience,” Wegrzyn said in the release. “ARPA-H’s investment has the potential to repair vision loss for millions of Americans.”
Calvin Roberts, MD, ARPA-H THEA program manager, said some therapies can slow progression of vision loss, but none currently exist that can bring back the ability to see.
“THEA and our performers intend to address this challenge, by transplanting the whole donor eye, reconnecting the nerves, muscles and blood vessels to the brain, and restoring vision,” he said in the release. “ARPA-H’s investments may eventually help generate new solutions for other neurological conditions, as well, such as spinal cord injuries.”
The recipients of the funding include InGel Therapeutics, Stanford University, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
The team at the University of Colorado will focus on developing novel stem cells and bioelectronic technologies that would help regenerate nerves. According to a press release from CU Anschutz, a team led by co-principal investigator Christene A. Huang, PhD, will study how the immune system reacts to a transplanted eye.
“Our goal is to make it easier for the body to accept the new eye without rejecting it,” she said. “To do that, we will create practical methods to manage inflammation and prevent transplant rejection.”
The team at Bascom Palmer is focused on procurement and preservation of donor eyes.
“This program represents the true power of collaborative science, bringing together experts across disciplines to confront one of the most complex challenges in modern medicine,” co-principal investigator Daniel Pelaez, PhD, said in a release from the institute. “By leveraging cutting-edge innovation in transplantation, bioengineering and neuroscience, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, with the potential to revolutionize vision restoration and transform lives.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated on Dec. 10, 2024, to include comments from Calvin Roberts, MD. Healio regrets the error.
References:
- Bascom Palmer receives multimillion dollar award to support functional whole-eye transplant. https://news.med.miami.edu/bascom-palmer-receives-multimillion-dollar-award-to-support-whole-eye-transplant/. Published Dec. 2, 2024. Accessed Dec. 3, 2024.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus-led team receives up to $46 million to develop innovative treatment to cure blindness. https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/university-of-colorado-anschutz-medical-campus-led-team-receives-up-to-46-million-to-develop-innovative-treatment-to-cure-blindness. Published Dec. 2, 2024. Accessed Dec. 3, 2024.
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts