A boost for vision restoration: IOB receives major European grant
Botond Roska and international collaborators Valentina Emiliani (Paris) and José-Alain Sahel (Pittsburgh) have received a prestigious ERC Synergy Grant. Together, they will develop next-generation optogenetic tools with the long-term aim of restoring high-resolution vision.
We are delighted to share that the European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a Synergy Grant to Botond Roska, together with Valentina Emiliani and José-Alain Sahel. Chosen from 957 proposals in a highly competitive call, their project unites expertise in neuroscience, molecular biology, physics and clinical medicine.
At the heart of the project is optogenetics, a technology that makes surviving retinal cells sensitive to light. Earlier clinical work, recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, has already shown encouraging results. The team will now develop more precise light-stimulation systems and new molecular tools to take these treatments to the next level. They also plan to test these new technologies in patients who took part in the earlier clinical trial.
At IOB, we believe the best science happens where disciplines meet. This project brings together basic research, engineering and clinical medicine with a shared goal: restoring vision. We look forward to sharing its progress in the years to come.
Media releases:
Further links:
European Research Council (ERC) Media Release
