Optogenetic Methods Restore Partial Vision in a Blind Patient
Optogenetics involves genetically altering cells so that they produce lightsensitive proteins called channelrhodopsins. The technique has a nearly 20year history in neuroscience but, so far, clinical benefit of optogenetics had not been demonstrated. An international research team has shown that optogenetic therapy has helped to partially regain visual function in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa. This is a milestone towards a gene therapy that could restore vision.

A collaboration between the teams of JoséAlain Sahel and Botond Roska culminated in the findings reported in a Nature medicine publication that reflect 13 years of multidisciplinary effort.
The achievement marks a milestone towards developing mutationindependent therapies for inherited photoreceptor diseases.

Here is the link to read the Nature medicine paper that Botond Roska mentions in the video:
Link to publication in Nature Medicine:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159...

About IOB
At the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), basic researchers and clinicians work hand in hand to advance the understanding of vision and its diseases, and to develop new therapies for vision loss. IOB started its operations in 2018. The institute is constituted as a foundation, granting academic freedom to its scientists. Founding partners are the University Hospital Basel, the University of Basel and Novartis. The Canton of BaselStadt has granted the institute substantial financial support.

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Links to institutional web pages we collaborated with for the publication in Nature medicine

● https://www.medschool.pitt.edu
● https://www.institutvision.org
● https://www.1520.fr
● http://www.streetlabvision.com
● https://www.gensightbiologics.com