Michelle McClements
BSc (Hons), PhD
Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Michelle’s background is in molecular biology and genetics with a focus on inherited retinal disease. She joined Professor MacLaren’s research group in 2010 on a Knoop Junior Fellowship with St Cross College and for several years was the lead researcher on an MRC-funded project to develop a dual vector treatment for Stargardt disease. Following the success of this project, Michelle now focuses on developing CRISPR-based molecular tools for the treatment of inherited retinal disease.
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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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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Gene Therapies in Clinical Development to Treat Retinal Disorders
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2024), Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy
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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
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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