Where do research ideas come from? Do they arrive in a thunderbolt eureka moment, or do they start as an observation or hunch, requiring some time to simmer, brew, incubate and grow? Some may evolve from an accidental or serendipitous discovery during a routine process. Observant operators of the Phoenix MICRON® retinal imaging system may
29.07
2021
Subretinal injection damage has implication for experimental control and treatment in rat model of retinopathy of prematurity
In their 2017 article, “Effect of subretinal injection on retinal structure and function in a rat oxygen-induced retinopathy model,” Becker et al used the Phoenix MICRON® IV fundus camera, Phoenix MICRON® OCT2 and corresponding layer analysis software Insight 2D, and the Phoenix MICRON® focal ERG to find that subretinal injection of saline or even introduction
27.01
2021
Stunning fundus images of GFP-positive cells demonstrate new intravitreal injection technique
In their article, “A Novel Method Combining Vitreous Aspiration and Intravitreal AAV2/8 Injection Results in Retina-Wide Transduction in Adult Mice,” Da Costa et al use the Phoenix MICRON® III imaging platform to take stunning images demonstrating the success of their novel intravitreal injection technique. Gene therapy is a promising treatment option of genetic retinopathies—adeno-associated viruses
18.11
2020
The Phoenix MICRON® IV system and OCT help evaluate promising compounds for treatment of age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration affects tens of millions of people worldwide, leading to vision impairment and blindness. Anti-VEGF treatment helps only 25-40% of patients, leaving others with no recourse to this progressive blinding disease. In their article, “Suppression of aberrant choroidal neovascularization through activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor,” Choudhary et al explore potential treatment using
21.07
2020
Caspase-9 inhibiting eyedrops rescue physiological and functional retinal vein occlusion damage shown with Phoenix MICRON®, OCT, and focal ERG
In a recent well written, compelling article published in Nature Communications, “Endothelial activation of caspase-9 promotes neurovascular injury in retinal vein occlusion,” Avrutsky et al show that caspase-9 inhibition is a promising treatment for retinal vein occlusion. Retinal vein occlusion models hypoxic-ischemic neurovascular damage and is the second leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.
23.06
2020
Targeting VEGF164 in Müller cells may be useful to treat retinopathy of prematurity
In Nature’s Scientific Reports, Becker et al use the Phoenix MICRON® IV, OCT, and focal ERG to assess the therapeutic value of knocking down a splice variant of VEGF in Müller cells in a model of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). ROP is characterized by delayed vascularization of the retina after disrupted oxygen levels, followed by