SIGHTED — EU EIC Transition Grant (CORDIS 101212687)
EU Horizon EIC Transition Open 2024 grant to Phosphoenix BV (lead) + Sorbonne Université (Roelfsema, scientific coordinator) + Institut de la Vision/INSERM. CORDIS permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101212687
Objective (from CORDIS)
Advance Fountain Probe from TRL 3 (proof-of-concept prototype, from FET-Open NeuraViPeR project, concluded Feb 2025) to TRL 5 (fully validated implant ready for human testing). Concurrently: regulatory clearance for First-in-Human study, business model refinement, go-to-market strategy, payer coverage preparation.
Device description (CORDIS)
Fountain Probe stimulates the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a thalamic nucleus relaying visual information from retina → visual cortex. Patented “Fountain Probe” distributes electrodes volumetrically within the LGN. Over 1,000 channels—vastly more than 8–20 channels of existing implants. Enables high-resolution, wide-field stimulation with low surgical risk (single burr hole, like DBS).
Consortium
| Partner | Country | Net EU contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Sorbonne Université (Roelfsema, Sci. Coord.) | France (Paris) | €776,875 |
| Phosphoenix BV (project lead) | Netherlands (Amsterdam) | €1,701,250 |
| Fondation de Coopération Scientifique Voir et Entendre | France | €21,624 |
Timeline
- FIH study (5 blind patients): early 2027
- Commercial launch target: 2032
- Predecessor: FET-Open NeuraViPeR project (concluded Feb 2025)