Evaluation of restored visual function by using chronically implantable ECoG electrode array.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390393
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Iwate University
• Principal Investigator: TOMITA Hiroshi 岩手大学, 工学部, 教授 (40302088)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FUJII Naotaka 理化学研究所, 脳科学総合研究センター, チームリーダー (20392095) ; TANAKA Tetsu 東北大学, 大学院医工学研究科, 教授 (40417382) ; SUGANO Eriko 岩手大学, 大学院工学研究科, 特任准教授 (70375210)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: オプトジェネティクス / 遺伝子治療 / 網膜

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have succeeded to restore their vision in genetically blind rats by transducing ChR2 gene into the retinal neuron with photoreceptor degenerations. To establish the method as a gene therapy for restoring vision, it is needed to evaluate the recovered visual acuity and the adverse effects caused by the gene therapy on a higher mammals close to human but not mice and rats. There is no method to measure the visual acuity in higher mammals such as monkeys. In this study, we tried to establish the method of the visual acuity test in cynomorgus monkeys and to develop a new method to evaluate the visual acuity by using chronically implantable electrode array for electrocrticograms. We also tried to transduce the gene into the retinal neuron and the cerebral cortex by using various serotypes AAV vector including the specific promoters. We established the method to measure the visual acuity test on cynomorgus monkeys and succeeded to record the ECoG from the site ChR2 gene was transduced.

Free Research Field

視覚科学