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NEI Research News

Thanks to the work of NEI scientists and grantees, we’re constantly learning new information about the causes and treatment of vision disorders. Get the latest updates about their work — along with other news about NEI.

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Regenerating mouse retinal ganglion cell axons (magenta and green) extending from site of optic nerve injury (left). Photo courtesy of Andrew D. Huberman.

Use it or Lose it: Visual Activity Regenerates Neural Connections Between Eye and Brain

A study in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows for the first time that high-contrast visual stimulation can help damaged retinal neurons regrow optic nerve fibers, otherwise known as retinal ganglion cell axons.
National Advisory Eye Council

National Advisory Eye Council Welcomes Three New Members

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of NIH, has appointed three new members to the National Advisory Eye Council (NAEC) who are attending their first NAEC meeting as council members today.
Object motion and amacrine cells in retina

Circuit in the Eye Relies on Built-In Delay to See Small Moving Objects

When we move our head, the whole visual world moves across our eyes. Yet we can still make out a bee buzzing by or a hawk flying overhead, thanks to unique cells in the eye called object motion sensors.
A pronghorn antelope in the Grand Teton National Park captured by a DSLR camera using the image stabilization function (left). The image on the right was artificially blurred to simulate one’s vision without the work of direction-sensitive ganglion cells. Photo is courtesy of Lu O. Sun, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The Brain’s Autofocus System Helps Stabilize Vision Despite Motion

Much like the automatic focus of a camera, our eyes and brains must constantly recalibrate so that we can get a clear view of the changing—and always moving—world around us.
Artist's rendering of neural activity in the retina. Light that enters the eye activates rod and cone photoreceptors, which in turn activate retinal ganglion cells. Signals travel to the brain via retinal ganglion cell axons. Photo credit: National Eye Institute.

NIH Launches Research to Gaze Deeply Into Your Eyes

Five bold projects will develop new technology to noninvasively image cells of the eye in unprecedented detail.The National Eye Institute (NEI) announced the awards as part of its Audacious Goals Initiative.
To learn more about AGI, please visit www.nei.nih.gov/audacious/.

NEI announces funding for new imaging technology to support Audacious Goal

The National Eye Institute has announced a funding opportunity for imaging cells and tissues of the visual system.
National Eye Institute logo.

Emerging technologies look deeper into the eyes to catch signs of disease

If you’ve ever been sleep-deprived, you’ve probably had a firsthand glimpse of the blood vessels in your eyes.
National Eye Institute logo.

First funding opportunity announcements for Audacious Goals Initiative available

The National Eye Institute (NEI) has announced funding opportunities for two new high priority research areas.