We are pleased to announce that Dr. Johnson V. John, Assistant Professor at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), has received an R56 grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Magdalene J. Seiler of the University of California, Irvine, and Dr. Biju B. Thomas of the University of Southern California.
The research focuses on developing advanced 3D-bioprinted retinal grafts to address vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), two major retinal degenerative diseases that can lead to irreversible blindness.
The NIH R56 award provides one to two years of research support to advance promising scientific projects and generate critical preliminary results for future research, including potential NIH R01 funding.
Dr. John is a biomaterials scientist whose research focuses on functional biomaterials, advanced biofabrication, and regenerative medicine. His laboratory develops innovative biomaterial-based platforms for tissue engineering and cell delivery, with applications in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and retinal repair.
The newly funded project will use Filamented Light (FLight), a 3D bioprinting technology, to build engineered grafts from stem cell-derived photoreceptor precursor cells and supporting retinal cells.
Filamented light (FLight) bioprinting offers a way to position photoreceptor precursor cells alongside supporting cells and create grafts that more closely resemble the organization of the outer retina. We hope to determine whether this improved organization can enhance graft integration and visual function in preclinical models."
Dr. Johnson V. John, Assistant Professor, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Building on previous studies demonstrating improved visual responses following retinal tissue transplantation, the research team will investigate whether precisely engineered graft architecture can enhance transplanted cell survival, integration, and functional recovery.
The team will evaluate the bioprinted retinal grafts through laboratory experiments and preclinical models of retinal degeneration, combining expertise in biomaterials, stem cell biology, retinal transplantation, and vision science.
"This collaborative research represents an important step toward developing more precisely engineered cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration," said Dr. Xiling Shen, Acting Director of the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation.
The NIH R56 award will support the development and preclinical validation of this innovative retinal graft platform, laying the foundation for future translational studies and potential therapeutic strategies for patients affected by degenerative retinal diseases.
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