Optogenetics

A number of sight-threatening diseases are caused by the inability of the retina to detect light due to damaged photoreceptor cells. Retinal optogenetics involves (i) the insertion of a gene encoding a protein that confers light responsiveness to target cells, and (ii) the use of a medical device to deliver light at the correct intensity and wavelength in order to stimulate the transduced retinal cells so that the cells transmit the signal to the brain.

We use gene therapy to confer a photoreceptive function to our target cells: the healthy and preserved RGCs. We combine the gene therapy with the use of our specially-developed external wearable device, designed as goggles, to amplify the light stimulation upon the transduced neuronal cells. The light, now at the corret intensity and wavelength to stimulate the transduced neuronal cells, results in expanded vision restoration.