Cell Biology of the Eye: Development, Disorders, and Repair

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 1473

Special Issue Editors

1. McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Interests: eye diseases; ocular mutations; inherited retinal diseases; CRISPR gene editing; base editing; prime editing; gene therapy; electrophysiology; disease models

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Guest Editor
1. McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
2. Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Interests: photoreceptor development; cone-rod specification; stem cells; retinal organoids; reporter lines; CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The eye is a highly specialized and complex organ, whose development depends on the precisely coordinated spatiotemporal orchestration of cellular and molecular cues. Proper functioning of the eye requires homeostasis in each of its structural and functional components. Any disruption in its developmental orchestration or the maintenance of homeostasis in a fully developed eye can lead to blindness.

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue, "Cell Biology of the Eye: Development, Disorders, and Repair", which aims to bring together cutting-edge research to deepen our understanding of ocular development, associated diseases and treatment modalities. 

We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews that will serve as a valuable resource for the scientific community committed to advancing eye health and restoring visual function.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Cell signaling and gene regulatory networks in eye development
  • Stem cells and organoids for ocular research
  • Regenerative medicine approaches for eye disorders
  • Cellular mechanisms of corneal, retinal, or lens homeostasis
  • Molecular basis of degenerative eye disorders
  • Advanced imaging techniques for studying ocular cell biology
  • In vitro and in vivo models of eye development and disease
  • Autophagy, apoptosis, and senescence in ocular tissues
  • Gene therapy and cell-based interventions for eye diseases
  • Innovative therapeutic strategies in ophthalmology

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Meha Kabra
Dr. Praveen Joseph Susaimanickam
Dr. Alessandra Micera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eye development
  • ocular homeostasis
  • degenerative eye disorders
  • stem cells
  • Regenerative medicine
  • ocular imaging
  • disease modeling
  • cellular senescence
  • gene therapy
  • ophthalmology therapeutics
 

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 1819 KB  
Review
Gene Therapy Advancements in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment
by Efstratia Amaxilati, Eleftherios Chatzimichail, Georgios N. Tsiropoulos, Lorenzo Motta, Theo Empeslidis, Zisis Gatzioufas and Georgios D. Panos
Cells 2026, 15(4), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15040376 - 21 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AΜD) remains a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Ιn neovascular AΜD (nAΜD), frequent intravitreal anti-VΕGF injections create substantial treatment burden, while approved therapies for geographic atrophy (GA) provide modest slowing of progression. Ocular gene therapy aims to achieve sustained [...] Read more.
Age-related macular degeneration (AΜD) remains a leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Ιn neovascular AΜD (nAΜD), frequent intravitreal anti-VΕGF injections create substantial treatment burden, while approved therapies for geographic atrophy (GA) provide modest slowing of progression. Ocular gene therapy aims to achieve sustained intraocular expression of therapeutic proteins after a single administration. Τhis review summarises the biological rationale, vector platforms, and delivery routes relevant to AΜD, with emphasis on adeno-associated virus (AAV) systems, capsid engineering, and compartment-specific administration (intravitreal, subretinal, and suprachoroidal). We synthesise the clinical landscape for sustained anti-VΕGF expression approaches in nAΜD and complement-modulating strategies for GA, and highlight how trials increasingly prioritise injection-burden reduction, anatomical endpoints, and biomarkers of target engagement. Κey challenges include intraocular inflammation and neutralising antibodies (particularly with intravitreal dosing), variability and durability of transgene expression, surgical risks associated with subretinal delivery, and practical constraints related to manufacturing scale, cost, and long-term safety surveillance for non-removable therapies. Overall, gene therapy offers a plausible route towards durable, mechanism-targeted AΜD management, but its clinical role will depend on robust controlled trials and multi-year follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Biology of the Eye: Development, Disorders, and Repair)
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