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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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LCA is an inherited disorder that causes vision loss in childhood. It primarily affects the functioning of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, as shown here. Photo credit: National Eye Institute

Participants of pioneering CRISPR gene editing trial see vision improve

About 79% of clinical trial participants experienced measurable improvement after receiving experimental, CRISPR-based gene editing that is designed to fix a rare form of blindness.
Optic nerve

Seeing a path to nerve regeneration

UConn scientists find protein that stimulates regrowth of optic nerve cells.

Researchers closing in on genetic treatments for hereditary lung disease, vision loss

Researchers who work with tiny drug carriers known as lipid nanoparticles have developed a new type of material capable of reaching the lungs and the eyes, an important step toward genetic therapy for hereditary conditions like inherited vision loss.
The image on the left is labeled "Normal retina," and shows green rods and red cones. The image on the right is labeled "Retina affected by retinitis pigmentosa," and shows green rods that have broken down.

Researchers engineer in vivo delivery system for prime editing, partially restoring vision in mice

By adapting virus-like particles to carry the machinery for a type of gene editing called prime editing, scientists have corrected disease-causing mutations in animals and increased editing efficiency.
Office-Glaucoma

New research aims to develop novel therapeutic for glaucoma

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are using a novel approach to hopefully develop a new therapy for glaucoma, a complex disease that eventually leads to blindness.

Pioneering study indicates a potential treatment for corneal endothelial disease, reducing the need for corneal transplants

Findings from a pioneering study reveal that administration of the neuropeptide α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH) promotes corneal healing and restores normal eye function.

NEI posts executive summary of workshop on extracellular vesicles

The September 14 workshop brought together multidisciplinary experts in extracellular vesicles – cell-secreted nanoparticles that mediate cell-cell communication.
Baranov and colleague talk in the laboratory.

Mass Eye and Ear researchers develop potential glaucoma treatment strategy to guide stem cells to the retina

A multidisciplinary team led by researchers at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear has identified a promising new strategy for glaucoma cell replacement therapy.

UConn health researchers find that youthful proteins help nerves regrow

Ribosomal protein genes that are found at low levels in adult nerve cells may be very important to axon regeneration.

Putting regenerative therapies on the map

Members of the National Eye Institute's Audacious Goals Initiative (AGI) published an outline of milestones to reach before commencing clinical trials of regenerative therapies for retinal disease.