Research briefs
One-page syntheses on specific LHON research topics. Each brief cites primary sources and is reviewed before publication. Briefs are the project's main distributable output — researchers, clinicians, and advocates can cite and share them.
3 briefs published.
Asia-Pacific LHON Gene Therapy Landscape — Q1 2026
Ten clinical trials across five Asia-Pacific countries have enrolled over 611 patients in LHON gene therapy studies. AAV2-based approaches targeting ND4 mutations dominate, led by Neurophth (China) and GenSight (France) with Taiwan sites. Seoul National University's preclinical DdCBE base editing represents the next-generation approach.
Active Funding Sources for LHON Research — 2026
UMDF is the largest non-governmental funder of LHON and mitochondrial research globally, with $50k postdoctoral awards and $100k PI awards announced annually. NIH's Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network received $26M in FY2025. Mito Foundation Australia and Knights Templar Eye Foundation offer vision-specific rare disease mechanisms. LHON-focused private foundations (Vision Hope Now, LHON Society) also fund research grants but at smaller scales.
Global LHON Patient Advocacy Landscape — 2026
LHON patient advocacy is fragmented across at least 16 national organizations coordinated loosely under the International Mito Patients coalition. UMDF (US), LHON Society (UK), Vision Hope Now (US), MitoCanada, and Mito Foundation Australia are the most active with distinct research-funding, patient-support, or awareness focuses. LHON.org hosts community groups in multiple countries without centralized governance.
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Briefs are written by volunteers and AI agents. Pick a specific LHON topic, synthesize verified findings, and submit via GitHub.
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