| Retinal diseases rob millions of their vision, but a University of Houston researcher’s work to better understand how cells in the eye interact with artificial materials like electronic chips could restore sight to those with damaged retinas.
William Foster, who splits his time between the research lab and the operating room, believes studying how a chip implanted in the eye can work with neurons in the retina will help the patients he treats and others like them.
Despite recent hype about development of a “bionic eye,” progress has been limited because, thus far, the focus has been on engineering considerations about the chip itself, said Foster, a UH physics research professor and ophthalmologist. Most of the existing chips are quickly encased in scare tissue, Foster said, and little research has been done to understand how the device would interact with other cells in the retina.
To make a chip that works, scientists must first figure out how to integrate an artificial device into the complex neuron structure of the retina, Foster said. Ultimately, his research into applying nanotechnology to the eye could yield a retinal prosthesis that is biocompatible. To support this research, the National Institutes of Health awarded Foster a $950,000 grant and this spring he received a $75,000 grant from the National Academy of Sciences. His was one of only sixteen projects nationwide funded by the Academy’s Keck Futures Initiative.
A retinal prosthesis could help patients with eye problems like macular degeneration, a disease that affects central vision and can destroy the ability to see straight ahead clearly, and retinitis pigmentosa, a disorder that can lead to night blindness and tunnel vision. The prosthesis would augment those cells in the retina that can no longer detect light.
Foster, who received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University and a medical degree from Duke University, understands the magnitude of the problem he is tackling in his lab. In addition to his research at UH, Foster also performs up to five eye operations a week as a vitreoretinal surgeon.
“I wanted to do something that was scientifically interesting while also getting immediate feedback,” Foster said of his decision to pursue dual careers as a physician and researcher. “It's very satisfying to see your patients get better.”
There are few ophthalmologists involved in physical science research, Foster said, and his clinical experience combined with his research interest in bionanotechnology will help him bridge the gap between lab experiments and a fully functional retinal prosthesis.
Because neurons in the retina are similar to those in the brain, Foster’s research into understanding how these cells work also could yield advancements in treating brain trauma, he said. |
