World's Second Human Trials of Embryonic Stem Cells May Make the Blind See Again |
Replaces bad cells in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients |
|
Editors published 4/20/2009 11:00:00 AM
|
Source: Blind to be cured with stem cells Sarah-Kate Templeton , TimesOnline
In what would be the second human trials of embryonic stem cells (the first for spinal cord injuries), a UK team is applying for regulatory approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the Human Tissue Authority, in order to replace damaged cells caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness.
Embryonic stem cells will be reprogrammed into replicas of the cells and injected into the back of the retina. This is hoped to be a simple one hour outpatient procedure 6-7 years from now.
[The procedure] was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital.
Laboratory trials completed by the British team have demonstrated that stem cells can prevent blindness in rats with a similar disease to AMD. They have also successfully tested elements of the technology in pigs.
The team is led by Professor Pete Coffey, director of the London Project to Cure Blindness, working alongside Lyndon da Cruz, a surgeon at Moorfields.
Professor Peng Khaw, director of the Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, added: “This shows that stem cell therapy is coming of age. It offers great hope for many sufferers around the world who cannot be treated with conventional treatment.” He added: “All my patients say to me is, ‘When will this stem cell treatment be ready? I want it now’.”
|
| |
