Despite advances in modern medicine in recent decades, millions of people diagnosed with retinal dystrophy suffer severe visual impairment or even blindness.
To avoid animal testing, the reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the advancement of 3D retinal organoid technology offer a valuable opportunity to study, understand and even treat retinal diseases. In addition, materials for retinal prostheses based on organic semiconductor technology can be tested with the aim of restoring the limited functionality of retinal cells.
Our research focuses on two main goals: the establishment of a new retinal organoid model to explore therapeutic approaches while avoiding animal testing and the development of novel organic retinal prostheses.
Research group Cellular and Molecular Ophthalmology
Address
Johannes Kepler University Linz
MED Campus I
Krankenhausstrasse 5
4020 Linz
Location
Building ADM, 6th floor
Telephone
Franziska Ammer Pickhardt, Master student at our research group, presented her thesis work at the Kepler Science Day 2024.
On May 2024, Dr. Ahmad Salti and Alessandro Bellapianta presented in Seattle, USA, their latest research work on stem cell derived retinal organoids at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology ARVO 2024, the biggest international Vision meeting in the world.
The Impetus program supports, among other things, young researchers and returnees for up to two years.
Johannes Kepler University Linz
Altenberger Straße 69
4040 Linz, Austria
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