In May of 2019, University of Iowa vision researchers published the first paper in the peer reviewed literature using single-cell gene expression within the human retina. With the aid of high-performance computing, the team was able to characterize gene expression profiles for 8,217 cells corresponding to ten different types of retinal cells. This multidisciplinary approach allowed for the first characterization of gene expression signatures in individual human retinal cell types such as photoreceptor cells and ganglion cells.

Our lab recently published a paper describing the identification of compounds that protect the cells of the choroid (the vascular system that supports rod and cone photoreceptor cells) from injury by the complement system, a major source of cell injury in age-related macular degeneration.

Screening over 1,000 FDA approved compounds led to the identification of a class of molecules that provide a benefit to choroidal cells in culture, with the prospect that these (or related) compounds may be helpful in humans with macular degeneration.

In collaboration with our colleagues in the University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, we recently published a series of human retinal organ culture experiments to study the optimal type of viral vectors for transducing human retina. This study was published in Human Gene Therapy (Wiley et al., 2018, http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/hum.2017.179). Photo courtesy of Dr. Luke Wiley.

In order to study endothelial cells of the choriocapillaris (CEC) replacement strategies we have generated a 3D choroid scaffold using a novel decellularization method in human RPE/choroid tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing decellularization of human RPE/choroid, as well as recellularization of a choroid scaffold with CECs.