Partnerships in Medical Research

LMRI studies MacTel by modeling the disease through patient-derived stem cells. Here, these cells are differentiated into RPE cells.

At the Lowy Medical Research Institute, we work with experts in fields we have identified as important for understanding macular telangiectasia type 2.  These fields include advanced retinal imaging; genetics; deep learning; the study of photoreceptors, Mueller glia, retinal pigment epithelial cells, metabolism, and more.  We have partnerships with individual researchers in these fields, and have forged a collaborative network between them.  These partnerships form the core of our research program, and they complement our intramural research and clinical studies.

The discoveries we make through researching MacTel may have broader applications to biomedical research.  Some of what we learn about the eye through MacTel has potential to lead to new therapies for other diseases.  Because of the broadly applicable nature of our research, we also work in partnership with groups that are interested basic vision science.  The results of our studies will deepen the biomedical community’s understanding of the eye and vision.