Michelle McClements
BSc (Hons), PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Michelle is an experienced research scientist with over 15 years’ expertise in molecular biology and gene therapy developments for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases. Since joining Professor MacLaren’s group in 2010 as a Knoop Junior Fellow at St Cross College, she has led significant projects, including an MRC-funded study developing a dual vector treatment for Stargardt disease. Building on this foundation, Michelle now oversees the group’s research pipeline, coordinating project development and ensuring strategic alignment with broader research goals. She plays a key role in mentoring PhD students and fostering a collaborative environment to drive innovation in CRISPR-based molecular tools and the development of retinal organoid platforms for screening and validating gene therapies.
Key publications
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Mirtron-mediated RNA knockdown/replacement therapy for the treatment of dominant retinitis pigmentosa
Journal article
Orlans HO. et al, (2021), Nature Communications, 12
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Optogenetic Gene Therapy for the Degenerate Retina: Recent Advances
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2020), Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14
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Analysis of Pathogenic Variants Correctable With CRISPR Base Editing Among Patients With Recessive Inherited Retinal Degeneration.
Journal article
Fry LE. et al, (2021), JAMA Ophthalmol
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Therapy Approaches for Stargardt Disease
Journal article
Piotter E. et al, (2021), Biomolecules, 11, 1179 - 1179
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Assessment of AAV Dual Vector Safety in the Abca4−/− Mouse Model of Stargardt Disease
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2020), Translational Vision Science & Technology, 9, 20 - 20
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An AAV Dual Vector Strategy Ameliorates the Stargardt Phenotype in AdultAbca4−/−Mice
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2019), Human Gene Therapy, 30, 590 - 600
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Promoter Orientation within an AAV-CRISPR Vector Affects Cas9 Expression and Gene Editing Efficiency
Journal article
Fry LE. et al, (2020), The CRISPR Journal, 3, 276 - 283
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Codon-Optimized RPGR Improves Stability and Efficacy of AAV8 Gene Therapy in Two Mouse Models of X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa
Journal article
Fischer MD. et al, (2017), Molecular Therapy, 25, 1854 - 1865
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Function of human pluripotent stem cell-derived photoreceptor progenitors in blind mice
Journal article
Barnea-Cramer AO. et al, (2016), Scientific Reports, 6
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Long-term restoration of visual function in end-stage retinal degeneration using subretinal human melanopsin gene therapy
Journal article
De Silva SR. et al, (2017), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114, 11211 - 11216
Recent publications
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CRISPR targeting of SNPs associated with age-related macular degeneration in ARPE-19 cells: a potential model for manipulating the complement system
Journal article
Salman A. et al, (2025), Gene Therapy, 32, 132 - 141
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Gene Therapies in Clinical Development to Treat Retinal Disorders
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2024), Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy, 28, 575 - 591
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Genetic therapies and potential therapeutic applications of CRISPR activators in the eye.
Journal article
Ng BW. et al, (2024), Prog Retin Eye Res, 102
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Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of retinal immune regulation and blood-retinal barrier function during experimental autoimmune uveitis
Journal article
Quinn J. et al, (2024), Scientific Reports, 14
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CRISPR targeting of SNPs associated with Age-related Macular Degeneration in ARPE-19 cells: a potential model for manipulating the complement system
Preprint
Salman A. et al, (2024)
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Rescue of cone and rod photoreceptor function in a CDHR1-model of age-related retinal degeneration
Journal article
Yusuf IH. et al, (2024), Molecular Therapy, 32, 1445 - 1460
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CRISPR Manipulation of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Haplotypes in the Complement System: Potential Future Therapeutic Applications/Avenues
Journal article
Salman A. et al, (2024), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25, 1697 - 1697
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Programmable RNA editing with endogenous ADAR enzymes – a feasible option for the treatment of inherited retinal disease?
Journal article
Bellingrath J-S. et al, (2023), Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16
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A Review of CRISPR Tools for Treating Usher Syndrome: Applicability, Safety, Efficiency, and In Vivo Delivery.
Journal article
Major L. et al, (2023), Int J Mol Sci, 24
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Erratum: Enhancement of Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Therapy Using Hydroxychloroquine in Murine and Human Tissues.
Journal article
Chandler LC. et al, (2023), Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev, 28
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Future Perspectives of Prime Editing for the Treatment of Inherited Retinal Diseases.
Journal article
Hansen S. et al, (2023), Cells, 12
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Impaired glutamylation of RPGR ORF15 underlies the cone-dominated phenotype associated with truncating distal ORF15 variants
Journal article
Cehajic-Kapetanovic J. et al, (2022), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119
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Minicircle Delivery to the Neural Retina as a Gene Therapy Approach
Journal article
Staurenghi F. et al, (2022), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 11673 - 11673
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New CRISPR Tools to Correct Pathogenic Mutations in Usher Syndrome.
Journal article
Major L. et al, (2022), Int J Mol Sci, 23
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Non-Viral Delivery of CRISPR/Cas Cargo to the Retina Using Nanoparticles: Current Possibilities, Challenges, and Limitations
Journal article
Salman A. et al, (2022), Pharmaceutics, 14, 1842 - 1842
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CRISPR DNA Base Editing Strategies for Treating Retinitis Pigmentosa Caused by Mutations in Rhodopsin
Journal article
Kaukonen M. et al, (2022), Genes, 13, 1327 - 1327
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AAV2-mediated gene therapy for Bietti crystalline dystrophy provides functional CYP4V2 in multiple relevant cell models.
Journal article
Wang J-H. et al, (2022), Sci Rep, 12
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Envisioning the development of a CRISPR-Cas mediated base editing strategy for a patient with a novel pathogenic CRB1 single nucleotide variant.
Journal article
Bellingrath J-S. et al, (2022), Ophthalmic Genet, 1 - 10
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Tropism of AAV Vectors in Photoreceptor-Like Cells of Human iPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids.
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2022), Transl Vis Sci Technol, 11
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The Scope of Pathogenic ABCA4 Mutations Targetable by CRISPR DNA Base Editing Systems—A Systematic Review
Journal article
Piotter E. et al, (2022), Frontiers in Genetics, 12