Contact information
Research groups
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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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