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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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Photoreceptor precursor cells (red) are shown with extended axons toward bipolar cells.

Audacious projects develop imaging technology to aid eye tissue regeneration

As regenerative therapies for blinding diseases move closer to clinical trials, the NEI's functional imaging consortium is pioneering noninvasive technologies to monitor the function of the retina’s neurons and their connections to the brain.

Micro-molded ‘ice cube tray’ scaffold is next step in returning sight to injured retinas

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have developed a micro-molded scaffolding photoreceptor “patch” designed to be implanted under a damaged or diseased retina.
Artist's rendering of photoreceptor signaling a retinal ganglion cell

Computer model fosters potential improvements to ‘bionic eye’ technology

Researchers at Keck School of Medicine of USC develop signals that could bring color vision and improved clarity to prosthesis for the blind.
Retina model shows RPE cells, choroidal neovascularization-like pathology, vascular layer, PEG layer, Bruch's membrane, drusen

First-ever lab model of human eye offers hope for macular degeneration patients

NEI-funded research at the University of Rochester has led to the development of a 3D lab model that mimics the part of the human retina affected in age-related macular degeneration.
Anti-VEGF treatment has greatly improved the prognosis for patients with AMD.

National Eye Institute launches data portal for macular degeneration research

The National Eye Institute (NEI) Data Commons now enables researchers to access data from patients with macular degeneration who participated in the Age-related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2).

Yale team finds dozens of genes that block regeneration of neurons

In a massive screen of 400 mouse genes, Yale School of Medicine researchers have identified 40 genes actively involved in suppression of axon regeneration in central nervous system cells.

A new vision for AAV-delivered gene therapies

A broadly applicable AAV genome-coupled immunomodulation strategy helps cloak the AAV virus from unwanted immune responses, and offers important insights into ocular inflammation.

Researchers use patients’ cells to test gene therapy for rare eye disease

Scientists at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have developed a promising gene therapy strategy for a rare disease that causes severe vision loss in childhood.

A Rift in the Retina May Help Repair the Optic Nerve

In experiments in mouse tissues and human cells, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have found that removing a membrane that lines the back of the eye may improve the success rate for regrowing nerve cells damaged by blinding diseases.

A Niche for the Eye

Research from the Stowers Institute suggests that the ciliary body might be key to detecting eye diseases before vision is impaired.