# A Next Generation Outer Retinal Microphysiological System

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2024 · $386,250

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provided scientists with the opportunity to develop
differentiated tissues from patients with inherited disease, and to use these in vitro models to study disease
mechanisms and to test drug and gene-based therapeutics. However, current differentiation protocols often fail
to accurately recapitulate the cellular organization present in the native tissue. For example, even state-of-the-
art retinal differentiation protocols, which give rise to three dimensional retinal organoids, do not accurately
recapitulate the cell-cell interactions that are present in the outer retina. Specifically, choroidal endothelial
cells are rarely present and never form an organized layer beneath the RPE. Similarly, rather than forming a
monolayer juxtaposed to newly developed photoreceptors, RPE cells are often found in clusters located at the
edges of the neural retina. In this application we describe a program focused on the development and
validation of a microphysiological system engineered to accurately recreate the complex architecture of the
perfused outer retina. Specifically, we propose to combine ultra-high resolution, state-of-the-art 3D printing of
retinal scaffolds, iPSC technology, and microfluidics to develop a next generation microphysiological system
that recapitulates the outer retina unit. Completion of the aims outlined in this proposal will help pave the way
for future studies focused on evaluating the pathophysiology of complex retinal degenerative disorders such as
age-related macular degeneration and development of novel drug and gene-based therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10823331
- **Project number:** 5R01EY033331-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Foster Mullins
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $386,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10823331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10823331, A Next Generation Outer Retinal Microphysiological System (5R01EY033331-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10823331. Licensed CC0.

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