Notice Number: NOT-EY-17-006
Key Dates
Release Date: May 10, 2017
None
Issued by
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Purpose
The 3-D Retina Organoid' Challenge (https://nei.nih.gov/3droc; the Challenge'), is an ideation Challenge in which the National Eye Institute (NEI; http://www.nei.nih.gov/) is asking for ideas to maximize the physiological relevance of 3-D human retina culture systems. Currently, retina culture models do not capture the complexity of the human retina. The goal of the Challenge is to transform innovative ideas into concrete concepts to develop new in vitro 3-D human retina models that recapitulate the organization and function of the human retina. NEI intends to follow this challenge with a follow-on but distinct Reduction to Practice Challenge, which will aim to invoke scientific and technological development of the model system. Technological breakthroughs in this arena could allow researchers and physicians to better understand, diagnose, and treat retinal diseases.
The total prize purse is $100,000 and the Challenge has a special category for trainees. Up to $90,000 will be awarded to no more than three prizes for non-trainee solutions. Up to $10,000 will be awarded for no more than three trainee prizes.
For full details about eligibility requirements, competition rules, and deadlines for submissions, please consult NEI’s 3-D ROC Challenge Details page.
Background
Around the world, an estimated 285 million people are visually impaired; of these, 39 million are blind. In many cases, blindness and vision loss are the result of retina-damaging diseases that, if better understood, could be treated or have interventions applied to stop degeneration or provide protection to remaining viable cells. One limitation in furthering research in this area is that eye tissue to study disease processes is not readily available. However, retina biology researchers have developed methods to grow 3-D retina models in vitro from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and embryonic stem cells (ESC). Current protocols vary in their strengths and limitations, but none can robustly recapitulate the complexity and functionality of the retina. In this Challenge, NEI seeks concept solutions outlining methods and protocols to develop a 3-D human retina organoid prototype that is physiologically relevant. Protocols to develop such a model system could be transformational for vision research and regenerative medicine. New models could be used for applications such as understanding eye development, studying retinal biology, modeling diseases, identifying and testing treatments, and serving as a tissue source to use in transplantation. In this Challenge, the protocols to make models used for disease modeling and drug testing are desired, and solution(s) should yield protocols that allow reproducible culture of functionally-competent retina organoids. This Challenge will speed up the efforts toward this goal.
Submissions Requested
In this Challenge competition, NEI is seeking innovative solutions to achieve significant advances over currently available protocols to grow retina organoids. As solvers address the evaluation criteria outlined below, they should state how and why they expect their proposed new methods or changes/additions to existing methods will improve aspects of retina organoids. Solutions must outline ideas to produce 3-D retina organoids that:
Are generated from human cells (derived from iPSC, federally approved ESC, multipotent cells, or adult cells subjected to a combination of transdifferentiation/reprogramming methods);
Are physiologically and morphologically relevant to normal or disease state; and
Consist of the major retina cell types and represent their biological functions and interplay.
Solutions that propose to grow cells in 2-D culture using a tissue-on-a-chip system are not of interest for this Challenge. However, creative approaches that incorporate use of microfluidics or perfusion to enhance culture of 3-D organoids are encouraged.
Evaluation Criterion 1. Cell Type, Structure, Viability, and Function (Recommended weighting 50%)
Cell Types: What aspects of protocol ensure that all five neuronal retina cell types (photoreceptors, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, horizontal cells, and amacrine cells) will be produced on included? Will other cell types be generated or included? If the method eliminates a cell type, justify why it is not included (i.e. the disease being modelled lacks the specific cell type).
Structure: What approach (e.g., self-organization or bioengineering with scaffolds, bioprinting, and/or a microfluidic apparatus) is proposed to achieve 3-D assembly? What aspects of the protocol ensure that 3-D organoids will be properly oriented and have layers recapitulating a laminated retina?
Viability: Does the protocol incorporate new procedural steps or technologies that aim to increase duration of viability as compared to current protocols?
Functional characterization of cell types: Does the solution incorporate novel steps or technologies that may enable all cell types to remain functional through the latest viable time point?
Evaluation Criterion 2. Robustness and Reproducibility (Recommended weighting 25%)
Is the protocol sufficiently clear and detailed to facilitate inter/intra-laboratory utility and reproducibility? What other resources will be developed to facilitate transferability?
Evaluation Criterion 3. Scientific applications and uses for models (Recommended weighting for each category: 25%)
Biology/Disease Modeling
What aspects of the protocol are in place to improve faithful recapitulation of the biological complexity? How will this recapitulation be validated? How will viability be tested, and how is the disease state expected to affect viability?
High Content Screening
How will the proposed model’s amenability to high content screening be enhanced? How will this be tested? How will the model’s ability to recapitulate known retina toxicities be tested? What methods will be used to mass-produce the proposed model?
Submitting a Response
To register and submit for this Challenge, Solvers may access the registration and submission platform from any of the following:
Access www.challenge.gov and search for NEI 3-D Retina Organoid Challenge
Every solver must register for the Challenge, even if participating as a member of a team.
For full details about eligibility requirements, competition rules, and deadlines for submissions, please consult NEI’s 3-D ROC Challenge Details page.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Jessica Mazerik, PhD
National Eye Institute
Telephone: 301-451-8161
Email: jessica.mazerik@nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
