Article preview from Start-Up - January, 2012
Artificial retinal prostheses are poised to make a dramatic impact by restoring at least partial vision to people blinded by degenerative ophthalmic diseases. A number of companies are developing complex implantable microelectronic innovations, many with external hardware components, to stimulate the retina and overcome the photoreceptor cell deterioration that is the hallmark of these diseases.
Article preview from Start-Up - January, 2012
The burgeoning field of artificial retinal prostheses is poised to make a dramatic impact by restoring at least partial vision to people blinded by degenerative ophthalmic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A number of innovative labs, universities and start-up companies around the world are developing a variety of complex implantable microelectronic innovations, many with external hardware components, to stimulate the retina and overcome the photoreceptor cell deterioration that is the hallmark of end-stage AMD and RP. Connecticut-based start-up LambdaVision Inc. is taking a different approach to restoring vision by developing a flexible, protein-based retinal implant designed to provide higher resolution and to be less surgically invasive than competing technologies. The company, launched by the University of Connecticut R&D Corp. in 2009, was founded to develop and commercialize a protein-based artificial retina utilizing the photoactive proteins bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and halorhodopsin (HR). The core technology was developed by Robert Birge, a University of Connecticut professor of biological and physical chemistry who has been studying BR and vision for over 30 years. Nicole Wagner, a graduate student, started in the UConn molecular biology graduate program in 2007 and worked on the proof-of-concept project with Birge and his group.
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