Development of a small molecule combinatorial treatment for RGC survival and axon regeneration to restore sight after optic neuropathy

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We plan to investigate the possibility of developing a new molecular treatment to promote the regeneration of nerves in the visual system following damage to the optic nerves. The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain and is essential for providing signals about visual stimuli for the brain to interpret as images. There are several conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged, including glaucoma, ischaemic damage and following head/eye traumatic injury. These conditions cause severe visual impairment and are common causes of blindness. Once optic nerve damage has taken place, the nerve cells die and there are currently no treatments available that can reverse the process and restore vision.Recent laboratory research models suggest that there are molecular mechanisms that can be manipulated in order to promote the survival and regeneration of nerve tissue following disease or injury. It may also be possible to restore connections to the brain that are lost in the disease process. The research to be undertaken at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine at the University of Birmingham aims to examine this in more detail and develop a new molecular treatment in order to protect and regenerate nerves and restore visual function. To investigate this we will construct a new molecule that acts in combination with others already shown to influence the nerve regeneration mechanisms. This will then be investigated in an animal model to assess whether nerve cells are able to survive and regenerate as we hypothesise, and then undertake further experiments to assess whether regeneration of nerve cells enables the restoration of visual function.Through this research we hope to show that optic nerve tissue can be regenerated following disease/injury and that visual function can be restored. This may then be translated into new therapies and offer hope for patients who have lost vision from optic nerve conditions.