Narayana Netralaya Foundation

From the Director

A basic research team was formed at Narayana Netralaya Foundation (NNF) with the aim of utilizing the large inflow of patients here for strategic patient-directed biomedical research for early diagnosis, prevention and therapy. This highlights the primary research goals for GROW- (Genes, repair and regeneration at ophthalmic workstation), with a tagline of “bridging bench to the clinic”. The overall aim is to establish NNF as a center of excellence for basic and translational research as well as establish technological platforms. The research at GROW labs is undertaken in major ophthalmic disease areas covering both clinical and basic research aspects of the various target diseases. We seek to harness the information derived from the huge patient base at the hospital system to ask relevant biomedical questions. We derive rational scientific projects based on patient data which are followed up with basic research investigations. The basic research will uncover mechanisms underlying disease pathology, which will be further confirmed by in vitro or in vivo preclinical models. The genetic and molecular basis of the diseases will then be validated within patient cohort clinical data followed by design of gene and stem cell therapies. Such results yield biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic value as well as potential therapeutic intervention points. Aside from this, gene and stem cell therapy technologies are developed concurrently as a general platform to directly start research on preclinical disease models for testing efficacy, safety etc. The long term goal will be to establish a solid foundation of preclinical research that can serve as a platform for future clinical trials.