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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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Florescent photo of mouse rod photoreceptor, next to photoreceptor schematic showing cell body, inner and outer segments.

Scientists shine light on how eyes adapt to the dark

A basic research study from the National Eye Institute (NEI) explains how the molecule transducin moves within light-sensing rod photoreceptors in mouse retina to help the eye quickly adapt from bright to low light and back.

Powerful enzyme that tamps down inflammation holds promise for protecting eyes in diabetes, premature birth

An enzyme under study to treat certain cancers is also showing promise in reducing the significant vision damage that can result from diabetes and premature birth, scientists report.
Earth

Iriqat and Lee deliver Global Health Vision Lectures

Series fosters global collaboration and exchange of information among international vision researchers and eye health clinical scientists

3D map reveals DNA organization within human retina cells

National Eye Institute researchers mapped the organization of human retinal cell chromatin, the fibers that package 3 billion nucleotide-long DNA molecules into compact structures that fit into chromosomes within each cell’s nucleus.
LCA is an inherited disorder that causes vision loss in childhood. It primarily affects the functioning of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, as shown here. Photo credit: National Eye Institute

Eye-opening discovery about adult brain’s ability to recover vision

University of California, Irvine team demonstrates the adult brain has the potential to partially recover from inherited blindness.
Fundus photo showing large white patches

Researchers discover new molecular driver of retinoblastoma

Study from UT Southwestern Medical Center could lead to new treatments for deadly childhood eye cancer.
Kiam Preston

NEI’s Preston teaches, inspires young scientists

A graduate student at the National Eye Institute, Preston volunteered this summer as a virtual instructor in the 8-week-long Journal of Emerging Investigators Mini Ph.D. Program.
RPE cell

NEI scientists publish protocol for making patient-derived eye tissue

The protocol gives step-by-step instructions, starting with patient-derived pluripotent stem cells, transitioning them to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and finally maturing them into RPE tissue.
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Tuncay first to complete NEI international fellowship in ocular genetics

Fulya Yaylacıoğlu Tuncay, M.D., Ph.D., said she gained crucial experience in translational medicine as the first participant in an ocular genetics fellowship program sponsored by NEI and the International Council of Ophthalmology.
Cutting strawberry

Nonprofit Hadley launches online tutorials for people with vision loss, in Spanish

Hadley has partnered with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to offer online tutorials in Spanish through Hadley’s online learning hub, Hadley.edu