Funding from the Research Council of Finland for the development of a new treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

The Research Council of Finland has selected 20 projects for funding within the Proof of Concept funding scheme. The total funding comes to 6.9 million euros. At the University of Oulu, funding has been awarded to a project led by Professor Peppi Karppinen, focusing on the development of a novel treatment for retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in children worldwide, affecting approximately 250,000 infants annually in the United States alone. ROP results from impaired oxygenation of the retina, leading to neovascularization and loss of vision.

The project aims to develop a therapeutic treatment for this challenging condition. It involves a new gene therapy product expected to improve the disease with a single treatment. The project is part of the GeneCellNano flagship.

The Research Council is providing funding of 300,000 euros for Karppinen's project, which is set to commence in early 2024 and last for two years. "We are truly excited to advance our discovery from basic research towards a cure for this extremely serious disease," says Peppi Karppinen.

The novel funding approach aims to promote the utilization of promising research results towards commercialization and the creation of broader societal impact.

Read more: Research Council of Finland picks promising projects to promote research utilisation

Last updated: 14.12.2023