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Non-invasive Ultrasound Stimulated Retinal Prosthesis

Award Number: R01EY030126
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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Non-invasive Ultrasound Stimulated Retinal Prosthesis - Abstract Age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa lead to loss of retinal photoreceptor cells, causing blindness in thousands of people each year. Retinal prosthetic devices treat these incurable conditions by electrically or chemically stimulating surviving retinal neurons with implanted devices in the eye. However, existing devices are very expensive, invasive, and require complex implantation surgeries. Here we propose to explore a new approach in retinal prosthetics that is entirely noninvasive. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of ultrasound to elicit neural activity in the rat hippocampus and motor cortex, and salamander retina cell. We recently demonstrated that a focused single element ultrasound transducer can elicit spiking activity in mammalian retinal neurons. In order to develop potential ultrasound prosthetic devices, we have to overcome several technical challenges: 1) Engineer an ultrasound device that is safe and effective (i.e., optimized) for retinal stimulation. 2) Develop three-dimensional mapping of neural activity in the retinal neural network under acoustic stimulation. Such an imaging method is essential for studying the biological mechanism of ultrasound stimulation and functional evaluation of ultrasound stimulation protocols. The goal of this study is to develop ultrasound stimulation by using phased array that can potentially replace invasive prosthetic electrical stimulation for retina. The first, we will develop specialized ultrasonic single- element transducer/phased arrays for retinal stimulation; we will design an optimal ultrasound stimulation paradigm to produce controllable and consistent retinal responses with high spatiotemporal resolution. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to investigate biophysical mechanisms of ultrasound stimulation on retinal neurons, and 2) to conduct functional testing of the ultrasound devices developed. Finally, in vitro and in vivo rabbit studies using integrated ultrasound stimulation will be developed.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90033	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	4	7/22/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	4	4/26/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $490,097 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	4	3/25/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,097
														Subtotal = $490,097

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $490,098 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	3	3/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$490,098
														Subtotal = $490,098

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $615,256 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	2	3/19/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$615,256
2020	2019	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	1	3/18/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $615,256

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $401,130 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	1	3/28/2019	NEW	$401,130
														Subtotal = $401,130

Grand Total All Awards = $1,996,581

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Non-invasive Ultrasound Stimulated Retinal Prosthesis

Award Number: R01EY030126

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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