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Flexible Ion-Mediated Artificial Retina

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R41EY023461-01A1
Agency Tracking Number: R41EY023461
Amount: $190,499.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: NEI
Solicitation Number: PA13-235
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
406 FARMINGTON AVE
FARMINGTON, CT 06032-1964
United States
DUNS: 831189761
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 ROBERT BIRGE
 (860) 486-6720
 Rbirge@uconn.edu
Business Contact
 MARK ALLEN
Phone: (860) 679-7894
Email: markva@uconnventures.com
Research Institution
 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
 
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CT 06268-
United States

 () -
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A flexible, protein-based, ion-mediated retinal implant is proposed for the restoration of vision for patients with retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa(RP). The implant under development uses the retinal- containing protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), to convert light into a pH gradient. This gradient is capable of activating the neural circuitry of the retina, specificall the bipolar and ganglion cells. Bacteriorhodopsin is a light-driven proton pump isolated from a salt-marsh archaeon and this protein has a quantum efficiency nearly identical to rhodopsin, the protein in the rod outer segments of the eye. The high thermal and photochemical stability of BRmake it an excellent candidate for use as the photoactive medium in a protein-based retinal implant. The implant will operate by using a local pH gradient to activate the neural circuitry of the retina by decreasing the pH in the milieu surrounding th

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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