Lions World Vision Institute Partners in ARPA-H Program to Restore Vision for the Blind
TAMPA, Dec. 16, 2024 – Lions World Vision Institute (LWVI), a global leader in vision restoration and eye banking, is proud to announce its collaboration in a transformative research program funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The ARPA-H Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program aims to achieve the first functional whole eye transplant, restoring sight to those with previously untreatable blindness.
LWVI is among more than 40 world-class scientists, surgeons, and researchers united under the Total Human Eye-allotransplantation Innovation Advancement (THEIA) project, led by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The award of up to $46 million is a six-year effort combining cutting-edge technology, regenerative medicine, and surgical innovation to reimagine the future of vision care.
“This project has the potential to truly revolutionize both our understanding and treatment of blinding eye diseases, offering renewed hope to individuals living with vision loss,” said James Foster, PhD, Scientific Director of LWVI. “With our dedicated research team, decades of expertise, and state-of-the-art recovery and preservation capabilities, LWVI is uniquely positioned to contribute to the success of this groundbreaking endeavor.”
This ambitious project has the potential to profoundly advance our understanding of the connections between the eye and brain, paving the way for breakthroughs in restoring vision to individuals with previously incurable blinding conditions.
Partnering for a Visionary Goal
While a cosmetic whole eye transplant was first demonstrated in 2023, achieving a functional transplant capable of restoring vision presents new challenges. A major focus of the THEIA project is to regenerate the optic nerve, which transmits signals from the eye to the brain, and to prevent scar formation that limits its regenerative capacity.
LWVI will collaborate closely with researchers at Johns Hopkins University and CU Anschutz to:
- Study changes in the optic nerve after globe recovery.
- Investigate novel methods to preserve tissue viability required for transplantation.
- Develop innovative techniques to extend the time optic nerves remain viable, increasing the chances of successful transplantation.
LWVI will work alongside a distinguished team of experts, including:
- Professor Thomas Johnson, Johns Hopkins University
- Professor Seth Blackshaw, Johns Hopkins University
- Professor Jeff Mumm, Johns Hopkins University
- Professor Donald Zack, Johns Hopkins University
- Professor Kannan Rangaramanujam, Johns Hopkins University
These partnerships will leverage decades of expertise in retinal biology, regeneration, and neuroscience, combining strengths to advance the frontiers of vision science.
“This project seeks to restore not just the eye, but the ability to see—a goal once thought impossible,” said Dr. Foster. “Together, we are working to fulfill LWVI’s mission: so the world can see.”
About Lions World Vision Institute
Lions World Vision Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to honoring vision as a basic human right. Our work extends around the globe and includes donor family and recipient support, advanced tissue preparation for transplant cases, innovative research and technology development, eye bank and surgeon training programs, pediatric vision services, and community-based education in local and international communities for those who are visually impaired. With our worldwide ecosystem of eye banks, surgeons, and research leaders, we work tirelessly to honor a donor’s gift by protecting and supporting sight restoration for hundreds of thousands of people—transforming lives around the world…. So the world can see.
For more information about Lions World Vision Institute, please visit www.LWVI.org