# Development of a photothermal stimulator array for controlled neuron stimulation

> **NIH NIH R16** · CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK · 2022 · $134,200

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration
(AMD), affect more than 10 million Americans. Unfortunately, many patients eventually suffer vision loss due to
no available therapeutic cure for these diseases. Retinal prosthesis is the only available option to make
artificial interfaces to restore a damaged neural path. Electrical stimulation-based retinal prostheses have been
most widely used due to their conceptual simplicity. However, it faces many hurdles due to complex signal
interfaces, especially for high spatial resolution. A novel approach based on the principle of stimulating
neuronal cells with a direct optical-induced thermal signal is introduced to potentially offer more advantages
over the electrical stimulation approach. However, the concept is relatively new, and necessary engineered
means should be developed to translate this approach to retinal prostheses. The goal of the proposed
research is to create a two-dimensional array of photothermal pixels, of which the thermal stimulation is directly
controlled by incoming light images. Based on the optical stimulation approach, this will address many
challenges that the current electrical stimulation face, especially for large area stimulation. Successful
completion of the proposed research will represent a revolutionary advance on the photothermal-based
stimulation method and open a new opportunity of using photothermal stimulation in retinal prostheses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10411554
- **Project number:** 1R16GM145601-01
- **Recipient organization:** CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
- **Principal Investigator:** Sang-Woo Seo
- **Activity code:** R16 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $134,200
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-05 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10411554

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10411554, Development of a photothermal stimulator array for controlled neuron stimulation (1R16GM145601-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10411554. Licensed CC0.

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