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Stem Cell Treatment for Macular Degeneration


Michael Oberdorfer

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Michael Oberdorfer

Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London report on a significant advance for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD.) AMD is a major cause of blindness and is caused by a dysfunction of the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the macular region of the eye.

The researchers engineered a RPE patch comprised of fully differentiated human embryonic stem cell–derived RPE monolayer on a coated, synthetic basement membrane. The RPE patch was microsurgically delivered into the subretinal space of one eye of two patients in this Phase I clinical study.

The delivery and the survival of the engineered RPE cells was confirmed microscopically and significant improvement of visual acuity was reported after one year.

The results were published in Nature Biotechnology and also reported by the BBC.

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