Contact information
Research groups
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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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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An AAV Dual Vector Strategy Ameliorates the Stargardt Phenotype in Adult Abca4-/- Mice.
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2019), Hum Gene Ther, 30, 590 - 600
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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), Mol Ther, 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), Sci Rep, 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), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 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 Ther
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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
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Gene Therapies in Clinical Development to Treat Retinal Disorders.
Journal article
McClements ME. et al, (2024), Mol Diagn Ther
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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), Mol Ther
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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), Int J Mol Sci, 25
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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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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), Front Mol Neurosci, 16
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Minicircle Delivery to the Neural Retina as a Gene Therapy Approach.
Journal article
Staurenghi F. et al, (2022), Int J Mol Sci, 23
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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
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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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In Silico Analysis of Pathogenic CRB1 Single Nucleotide Variants and Their Amenability to Base Editing as a Potential Lead for Therapeutic Intervention.
Journal article
Bellingrath J-S. et al, (2021), Genes (Basel), 12
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CRISPR Systems Suitable for Single AAV Vector Delivery.
Journal article
Stevanovic M. et al, (2021), Curr Gene Ther
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Characterizing the cellular immune response to subretinal AAV gene therapy in the murine retina.
Journal article
Chandler LC. et al, (2021), Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev, 22, 52 - 65
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Deep phenotyping of the Cdhr1-/- mouse validates its use in pre-clinical studies for human CDHR1-associated retinal degeneration.
Journal article
Yusuf IH. et al, (2021), Exp Eye Res, 208
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Gene Therapy Rescues Cone and Rod Function in a Pre-Clinical Model of CDHR1-Associated Retinal Degeneration through Restoration of Photoreceptor Outer Segments
Conference paper
Yusuf IH. et al, (2021), MOLECULAR THERAPY, 29, 68 - 69