ARPA, the top-tier research funding agency of the United States, has announced the Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) project which supports research organizations in enabling the transplantation of human eyes so that recipients can regain their sight.
Recipients of funding from THEA will investigate various necessary techniques for eye transplants, divided into three technical areas (TA):
TA 1: Treating critical eye structures prior to transplantation, such as the retina.
TA 2: Regenerating nerve fibers post-transplantation.
TA 3: Surgical techniques for eye transplants, post-operative patient care, and evaluating success post-surgery.
Currently, there are 4 research teams collaborating on THEA:
InGel Therapeutics: Developing retina repair using stem cells.
Stanford University: Researching the entire surgical process for transplantation.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus: Developing stem cell-based retina repair and utilizing bioelectronic approaches for self-transplantation surgery preparation.
The University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute: Developing methods for retrieving donated eyes and preserving them outside the human body.
The total research funding amounts to $125 million and participants will receive research funds as they achieve successful research outcomes in line with the set objectives.
Source: ARPA-H
TLDR: ARPA funds THEA project for advanced eye transplantation research aiming to restore vision, supporting various technical areas and research teams for successful outcomes.
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