The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain and, if damaged, can cause devastating ocular problems for patients, even if the eye is relatively healthy. Repairing and/or regenerating the optic nerve would allow individuals with optic nerve damage to potentially regain their vision. Eventually, the success of this work will lead to research in whole eye transplants.
Glaucoma, a chronic disease, also compromises the optic nerve, leading to death of retinal ganglion cells and deficits in overall visual function. Unfortunately, despite progress over the last two decades on understanding disease processes that compromise the optic nerve and its functions, there is no effective strategy to regenerate retinal ganglion cells and their axons, or to restore connections between the eye and brain once the optic nerve is lost. This is a major barrier in the field and one that must be overcome, given the substantial number of patients suffering from optic neuropathy-associated blindness.
Established in 2008 by the generosity of Louis and Dorothy Fox, the Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh is the first national, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary research and clinical program dedicated to ocular regenerative medicine. Led by director John Ash, PhD, and co-director Larry Benowitz, PhD, the Fox Center focuses on the restoration of sight through tissue regeneration, transplantation, and technology. We optimize quality of life for those challenged by vision loss. We ensure that individuals and their loved ones know they are not alone in addressing this challenge. In recent years, the Fox Center’s resources have been focused on validating strategies to regenerate the optic nerve and to reconnect the eye and the brain. The Fox Center research team expects to break down some of the major barriers to clinical treatment and move closer to implementing novel cell therapies to restore vision to those who have lost it due to optic neuropathy.
The Fox Center is now an internationally recognized leader for its innovative research and clinical translation of regenerative medicine-based therapies. The research at the Fox Center is focused on optic nerve regeneration and whole eye transplantation research, two of the most promising areas in ophthalmic research. By dedicating its world-renowned scientists, along with the financial resources of the Fox Center to these two puzzles, a framework emerges for finally conquering these two ocular maladies in an expedited fashion.
Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration Conference
Each year, the Louis J. Fox Conference invites researchers from around the world to collaborate and discuss new research dedicated to restoring vision.
Research Team
Issam Al Diri, PhD – Al Diri Lab
- Retinal proliferation and differentiation during development
- Three-dimensional nuclear architecture of retinal cells
- Epigenetic landscape dynamics during retinal development
- Coordination of retinal development by chromatin regulators
- Epigenetics of retinal degenerative diseases
Taka Kuwajima, PhD – Kuwajima Lab
- Optic nerve regeneration
- Optic nerve degeneration
- Retinal axon injury
- Glaucoma
- Retinal axon development
Kun-Che Chang, PhD – Chang Lab
- Stem cell and neurogeneration
- Glaucoma and optic neuropathy
For the latest news on groundbreaking optic nerve research, visit our Optic Nerve blog and subscribe to EEF’s Sight + Sound Newsletter.
For more information on Fox Center Labs, visit:
- Charles & Louella Snyder Ocular Development, Disease & Regeneration Laboratory
- Optic Nerve Regeneration Laboratory
Other contributors to Optic Nerve Regeneration: