Summary
Development of a novel drug screening platform utilizing functionally viable postmortem human donor eyes to test investigational new drugs (INDs) for blinding diseases, aiming to improve translation success and reduce animal testing.
Drug Screening Platform in the Light-Responsive Human Eye
US · IL
NIH
grant
awarded
#nih-1R43EY037154-01
What they want
The project aims to establish novel ex vivo preclinical models for human ocular diseases and develop a multichannel drug screening platform in light-responsive mouse and human retinas. This involves scaling up access to viable human eyes by restoring and preserving in vivo-like light responsiveness in eyes procured up to 1-hour and stored over 48-hours post-mortem. The platform will test the impact of INDs on the physiology of human retinal neurons and glia exposed to disease stressors like ischemia and inflammation. Phase 2 will expand the platform's utility to screen clinically approved/failed drugs and compound libraries, and study the impact of small-molecule drugs and gene therapies in aged and diseased human eyes.
Deliverables
- Novel ex vivo preclinical models for human ocular diseases
- Multichannel drug screening platform in light-responsive mouse and human retina
- Assays to screen efficacy and safety of INDs in human retinal neurons and glia
- Screening results for clinically approved/failed drugs and compound libraries
Technical requirements
- Functionally viable human donor tissues
- In vivo-like light signaling in postmortem human retinas
- Human retina samples maintained functional for >48-hrs
- High-throughput platform for testing INDs
Risks & flags
Incumbent: Eyescreen, Inc.
