Eye Transplants Move Closer to Reality with $47 Million Grant
Could Eye Transplants Be the Future of Vision Restoration?
USC Researchers Join National Effort to Make Sci-Fi a Reality
(Los Angeles, CA) – Imagine a world where sight lost to injury or disease could be restored through a groundbreaking eye transplant. This once-futuristic concept is edging closer to reality thanks to a bold new initiative funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).The agency has awarded up to $47 million over six years to the Total Human eye-allotransplantation Innovation Advancement (THEIA) program, an aspiring project aiming to bring eye transplantation to clinical trials.
While a single whole-eye transplant was successfully performed as part of a face transplant in 2023, the transplanted eye has yet to provide vision. THEIA seeks to overcome this hurdle adn pave the way for a future where eye transplants become a viable treatment option.
Leading the charge is a powerhouse team of eight organizations, including the USC Roski Eye Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
“Until ARPA-H created this chance, the concept of eye transplantation felt too sci-fi, too out of reach, for many,” says Dr. Kimberly Gokoffski,a neuro-ophthalmologist and surgeon-scientist at the Keck School of Medicine,who is spearheading USC’s involvement in THEIA. “However, because of recent medical and scientific advancements, a lot of us began to realize that this was something worth pursuing.”
A Multifaceted approach to a Complex Challenge
THEIA’s strategy encompasses several key areas:
Preservation: Developing techniques to ensure donated eyes remain viable for transplantation.
Nerve Repair: Finding innovative ways to attach and repair the delicate optic nerve, the crucial link between the eye and the brain.
Surgical Innovation: Establishing the logistical and technical details of the entire transplantation procedure, from surgery to post-operative care.
The project leverages cutting-edge technologies, including cell-based and gene-based therapies, and also devices designed to stimulate nerve activity.Dr. Gokoffski’s team at USC is playing a pivotal role in two critical areas:
Nerve Regeneration: Advancing a system that uses electrical stimulation to guide nerve growth.
* Transplant Protocol: Creating extensive protocols for donor and patient selection, surgical procedures, and post-transplant care.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, for instance, optimizing the balance of what you preserve in the patient and what you harvest from the donor,” Dr. Gokoffski explains.
A Convergence of Expertise
To tackle this complex challenge, THEIA has assembled a diverse team of experts from academic medical centers, a private foundation, and a government institute.
Dr. Gokoffski has brought together a multidisciplinary team at USC and the University of California, Irvine, encompassing ophthalmology, neurosurgery, neurobiology, and bioengineering. This team includes renowned figures like Dr. Gianluca Lazzi, director of the USC Institute for Technology and Medical Systems, Dr. Mark Humayun, inventor of an FDA-approved “bionic eye” device, and Dr. Arthur Toga, a world-renowned expert in brain imaging.
“Engineers and biologists and clinicians all think differently,and we’re understanding the importance of convergent research linking different schools of thought,” Dr. Gokoffski says. “Interdisciplinarity is a strength at USC, and something we hope to capitalize on. We also have a tradition of success and excellence – researchers with experience taking a technology literally from concept to…”
USC Leads Groundbreaking Eye Transplant Research with $47 Million Grant
Los Angeles, CA – A team of researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) Roski Eye Institute, led by Dr. Kimberly Gokoffski, has received a groundbreaking $47 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a revolutionary eye transplant procedure. This ambitious project aims to restore sight to individuals with severe vision loss by combining cutting-edge surgical techniques with innovative bioengineering approaches.
“This isn’t just about transplanting an eye; it’s about rewiring the visual system,” said Dr. Gokoffski,a neuro-ophthalmologist and surgeon-scientist at the Keck School of Medicine. ”We’re taking what we know works in the operating room – and that tradition is backing us up.”
The project leverages a unique combination of expertise. Dr. gokoffski is collaborating with industry partners like Neurotech, which produces growth factor-releasing implants, and Boston Scientific, known for its brain implants used in treating neurological conditions.”I don’t consider this to be an exploratory or revelation award but rather a chance to demonstrate efficacy,” Dr. Gokoffski explained. ”we’re taking what we know works and trying it out in combination with advances made by other experts in the field. I wanted to find collaborators most likely to help translate the science to the clinic,as fast as possible.”
The procedure involves implanting a series of devices in the eye and brain to stimulate nerve growth. A key component is a cuff placed around the junction of donated and host tissue. This cuff will not only deliver an electric field to guide nerve growth but also administer biologic treatments to support nerve survival and minimize inflammation.
“If you only drive growth of neurons from within, it’s kind of like hitting the gas without controlling the steering,” Dr. Gokoffski said. “The electric fields do provide gas, but they primarily provide the steering cue. Our research essentially aims to use natural cellular responses to electric fields to guide the nerves to grow to where they need to grow. If we rewire improperly, patients could experience visual confusion.”
Following preclinical testing, the USC Roski Eye Institute will recruit and enroll potential patients. A team of specialists, including neurosurgeon Dr. Darrin Lee from USC, plastic surgeons from the university of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and transplant surgeons from Cedars-Sinai, will perform the eye transplantation and provide post-operative care. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at the USC Roski Eye Institute.
Dr. Gokoffski emphasizes the importance of continued collaboration. “To achieve the biggest goals, we really need to join together and pool our resources,” she said. “Bringing people together to achieve a big goal is exactly what ARPA-H is trying to do.”
This ambitious project holds immense promise for restoring sight to millions of people worldwide. The success of this research could revolutionize the field of ophthalmology and offer hope to those living with vision loss.
Could eye Transplants Be the Future of Vision Restoration? USC Researchers lead the Charge
NewsDirectory3.com - Los Angeles, CA – Imagine a world where eyesight lost too injury or disease could be restored through a groundbreaking eye transplant.This once-fantastical notion is now edging closer to reality thanks to a bold new initiative funded by the Advanced Research projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).
In a recent interview, Dr. Kimberly Gokoffski, a neuro-ophthalmologist and surgeon-scientist at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, shed light on the revolutionary Total Human eye-allotransplantation Innovation Advancement (THEIA) program. THEIA, awarded up to $47 million over six years, aims to bring eye transplantation to clinical trials and transform the landscape of vision restoration.
While a single whole-eye transplant was successfully performed as part of a face transplant in 2023, the transplanted eye has yet to provide vision.
THEIA: A Multifaceted Approach to a Complex Challenge
Dr.Gokoffski emphasized the program’s multifaceted strategy, wich encompasses three key areas:
Preservation: Developing techniques to ensure donated eyes remain viable for transplantation.
Nerve Repair: Discovering innovative ways to attach and repair the delicate optic nerve, the crucial link between the eye and the brain.
Surgical Innovation: Establishing the logistical and technical details of the entire transplantation procedure, from surgery to post-operative care.
USC’s Pioneering Role in Nerve Regeneration and Transplant Protocol
Dr. Gokoffski’s team at USC plays a pivotal role in two critical areas:
Nerve Regeneration: Their work focuses on advancing a system using electrical stimulation to guide nerve growth
* Transplant Protocol: They are creating comprehensive protocols for donor and patient selection, surgical procedures, and post-transplant care.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Dr. Gokoffski explained.”Optimizing the balance of what we preserve in the patient and what we harvest from the donor is crucial.”
A Convergence of Expertise for a Visionary Goal
Recognizing the complexity of this challenge, THEIA has assembled a powerhouse team of experts from various institutions.
Dr. Gokoffski has curated a multidisciplinary team at USC and UC Irvine, encompassing ophthalmology, neurosurgery, neurobiology, and bioengineering. This collaborative effort brings together renowned experts,fueled by the shared goal of making eye transplantation a viable treatment option.
The THEIA program represents a giant leap forward in vision restoration research, offering hope to millions who have lost their sight. As Dr. Gokoffski and her colleagues continue their groundbreaking work, the future of eye transplantation shines brighter than ever before.