The eye is one of the most advanced fields for stem cell research.
The prospect of reversing blindness has made a significant leap, according to scientists in the UK.
An animal study in the journal Nature Biotechnology showed the part of the eye which actually detects light can be repaired using stem cells.
The team at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London say human trials are now, for the first time, a realistic prospect.
Experts described it as a “significant breakthrough” and “huge leap” forward.
Photoreceptors are the cells in the retina which react to light and convert it into an electrical signal which can be sent to the brain.
However, these cells can die off in some causes of blindness such as Stargardt’s disease and age-related macular degeneration.
There are already trials in people to use stem cells to replace the “support” cells in the eye which keep the photoreceptors alive.
Blind mice
Now the London-based team have shown it is possible to replace the light-sensing cells themselves, raising the prospect of reversing blindness.
They have used a new technique for building retinas in the laboratory. It was used to collect thousands of stem cells, which were primed to transform into photoreceptors, and injected them into the eyes of blind mice.
The study showed that these cells could hook up with the existing architecture of the eye and begin to function.
However, the effectiveness is still low. Only about 1,000 cells out of a transplant of 200,000 actually hooked up with the rest of the eye.
Lead researcher Prof Robin Ali told the BBC News website: “This is a real proof of concept that photoreceptors can be transplanted from an embryonic stem cells source and it give us a route map to now do this in humans.
“That’s why we’re so excited, five years is a now a realistic aim for starting a clinical trial.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Curing blindness
- CRISPR gene editing trial treats inherited blindnesson May 9, 2024 at 1:24 am
Scientistse have restored vision and hearing in people born with congenital blindness or deafness in two seperate gene therapy trials A British toddler born deaf has become the first person to have ...
- Clinical trial shows CRISPR gene editing has exciting potential to treat a rare form of blindnesson May 8, 2024 at 9:28 am
These conditions are a major cause of blindness globally. In the condition called CEP290 ... The deficiency of this molecule disrupts normal ciliary action on photoreceptors. There is no cure at ...
- Experimental gene therapy restores some vision in patients with inherited blindnesson May 6, 2024 at 7:32 am
For her entire life, college student Olivia Cook had only a small degree of central vision. It was as if she was watching the world through a straw hole, and in dimly lit places, she could not make ...
- Texas Company’s Mission to Cure Macular Degeneration Blindnesson April 30, 2024 at 8:14 am
Mesogen Inc. out of The Woodlands, Texas, has developed a transplantable Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE) patch to cure Macular Degeneration Blindness using autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells ...
- Texas Company’s Mission to Cure Macular Degeneration Blindnesson April 30, 2024 at 4:14 am
Since this discovery of a cure for Macular Degeneration blindness, the treatment is still not on the market. Also, since 2007 stem cell technologies have progressed a tremendous amount.
- Welcome to a world where we can cure blindness, chronic pain and neurological diseases with 3D printed surgical implantson April 29, 2024 at 10:29 am
Science X is a network of high quality websites with most complete and comprehensive daily coverage of the full sweep of science, technology, and medicine news ...
- Welcome to a world where we can cure blindness, chronic pain and neurological diseases with 3D printed surgical implantson April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
“Damaged or misfiring neurons have catastrophic consequences, resulting in blindness, paralysis and a whole host of neurological disorders that we have not been able to cure. “We believe we ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Curing blindness
[google_news title=”” keyword=”curing blindness” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Reversing blindness
- 'Some days, it's my whole world': Horseshoes helps this blind athlete deal with rare diseaseon May 9, 2024 at 12:38 pm
Paula Schwerdtfeger of Waupaca overcomes blindness and neuropathy symptoms to thrive in sanctioned horseshoe competitions.
- Freightliner enhances safety offerings for Plus serieson May 9, 2024 at 4:41 am
Available as a factory-installed safety option, the passive system includes a 7-inch integrated touchscreen display, backup camera, and reverse proximity sensor to meet the ...
- PTI narrative to take it to blind alley: Vawdaon May 8, 2024 at 10:16 pm
Senator Faisal Vawda has warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of repercussions of strong statements, saying the statements will take the party to the blind alley. Talking to a private TV, the Senator said ...
- Turbocharging Distracted Drivingon May 8, 2024 at 12:59 pm
In 1980 in the United states, a total of 51,091 people died in 45,284 fatal crashes involving 63,485 vehicles.
- Freightliner Adds Backup Alerts to Plus Series Truckson May 7, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Available as a factory-installed safety option, the passive system includes a 7-inch integrated touchscreen display, backup camera, and reverse proximity sensor to meet the needs of hard-working ...
- Falling in Reverse coming to Star Lake on 2024 touron May 7, 2024 at 9:28 am
Falling in Reverse announced a tour stop for Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Pavilion at Star Lake. The band will be joined by Black Veil Brides, Dance Gavin Dance, Tech N9ne and Jeris Johnson. Tickets go ...
- Clinical trial shows measurable improvement in inherited blindness after gene therapyon May 6, 2024 at 8:19 am
An injectable gene therapy caused measurable improvements in vision among a small group of people with inherited blindness, an early-stage clinical trial says.
- Steve Griffin: Hard to beat the view from a turkey blindon May 6, 2024 at 7:26 am
I love a few hours invested in a thickish newspaper and a few cups of coffee. A turkey blind’s a fine setting for this, too ...
- OpEd: Policy Creates a Solar Blind Spoton April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
California has always led by example. Now is the time to set another good example by admitting that this policy was a mistake and reversing it as soon as possible. Matt Horton is a senior adviser at ...
- Could your child live to be 150 years old?on April 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The treatment, called photodynamic therapy, uses a combination of laser technology and a specially formulated dye to reverse blindness. The dye is injected into the patient's arm and then flows up ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Reversing blindness
[google_news title=”” keyword=”reversing blindness” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
