Visual restoration by cortical optogenetic stimulation in non-human primates – BrainOptoSight

The BrainOptoSight project aims at restoring vision in blind individuals following an optic atrophy with a complete loss of their eye/brain connection. Our strategy relies on optogenetic therapy to directly and selectively stimulate neurons in higher visual areas. After gathering preliminary data on rats, the project will focus on the preclinical validation on non-human primates. It implies 1) the selection of the viral vector to efficiently activate visual neurons of the primate cortex 2) to image the activity patterns generated at the cortical level using ultrafast ultrasound imaging after presentations of visual stimuli to the primates 3) Behavioral response of the primates linked to the perception of a specific shape upon optogenetic stimulation of its visual cortex using an optical stimulator. This project will enable us to validate the optical stimulator and the viral vector providing thereby the proofs of concepts in non-human primates for the strategy and for future plan of clinical trials in blind patients.