The STORM Center focuses on regenerative medicine within the eye, with particular focus on regenerating neurons and their connections in the eye and  the visual system. Eyesight is contingent upon the eye's ability to capture images using photoreceptor cells, and the successful transmission of these images to the brain via the optic nerve, dependent on retinal ganglion cells (RCGs). The dysfunction and death of each of these types of cells, photoreceptors and RCGs, cause a variety of eye diseases and damage that lead to vision loss.

Our Breakthroughs

Our scientists are studying how stem cells can be used to replace these dead, dying or broken cells to cure any blindness and have already achieved significant success including:

• Creating three-dimensional human retinas in the lab composed of photoreceptors that sense light
• Growing new retinal ganglion cells in the lab from human stem cells
• Repairing damaged retinal blood vessels in mice using stem cells

Our Current Work

• The Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) Repopulation, Stem cell Transplantation, and Optic nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) consortium will advance translational development of vision restoration therapies for glaucoma and other primary optic neuropathies by assembling an international group of more than 100 leading and emerging investigators from related fields. Learn more.
• Building and testing surgical devices and approaches to deliver stem cell-derived, retinal cells into the eye
• Developing real-time imaging technology that will allow us to monitor the performance of the transplanted cells
• Facilitating assimilation of the transplanted photoreceptors and RGCs to connect them with other cells in the retina and the brain and thus to enable the patient to see
• Identifying molecules that help the new cells survive and creating the best environment to keep transplanted cells alive in the eye
• Optimizing regenerative medicine for the eye, specifically, honing technologies to correct genetic mutations and grow healthy photoreceptors, RGCs and other retinal cells from human stem cells