$56 million research project for whole eye transplants
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine will address technical, biological and immunological limitations of whole eye transplants as part of a $56 million collaborative research project.
The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM; NC, USA) has joined a project to enable vision-restoring whole eye transplants. The project will involve over 40 scientists, doctors and industry experts nationwide, and is supported by up to $56 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (MD, USA) Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts program. WFIRM has received an initial $5.2 million funding commitment over four years to contribute to this collaborative effort.
Blindness and severe vision loss affect millions globally, with few effective treatment options for restoring complete vision. Whole eye transplants present a transformative solution, but they are hindered by many challenges, including optic nerve regeneration, immune privilege variability and maintaining vascular supply. The project, titled “Viability, Imaging, Surgical, Immunomodulation, Ocular Preservation and Neuroregeneration (VISION) Strategies for Whole Eye Transplant,” aims to address the existing limitations using a comprehensive and collaborative approach.
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Vijay Gorantla, a vascularized composite allotransplantation expert and WFIRM professor, will lead studies addressing technical, biological and immunological limitations of whole eye transplants. Gorantla explained, “Achieving vision restoration through whole eye transplantation is an unparalleled opportunity to transform lives. This [Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health] program brings together unmatched expertise, innovative technologies, and a shared determination to overcome challenges once deemed insurmountable.”
WFIRM and its strategic partner BMI OrganBank (NC, USA) will adapt proprietary organ and tissue-preservation technologies to optimize donor eye viability. The team will also focus on meticulous donor selection, logistical advancements and tailored post-transplant rehabilitation.
Successfully developing whole eye transplants could restore vision to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, dramatically improving their quality of life. Although the project is in its early stages, the collaborative approach is designed to address the most significant hurdles and highlights regenerative medicine’s potential to solve complex medical challenges, paving the way for future innovations in transplant science.
