by Dan Roberts October 2006 The protein Complement Factor H (CFH) has previously been found to play a role in the development of soft confluent drusen leading to AMD (see “CFH and CFB Proteins May Lead to AMD”). CFH has implicated inflammation as part of the AMD pathogenesis, and now, discovery of a new gene [Read More]
Category: Latest News
Age-related Macular Degeneration Does Not Cause Blindness
A revealing opinion poll sponsored by MD Support shows that a strong majority of people affected by AMD do not think of themselves as blind, and they do not want the term to be used to describe their visual impairment. The pronouncement is well known: “age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness [Read More]
Stem Cells Promise Cure
by Dan Roberts April 20, 2006 Here is a summary of an article that appeared in Science Magazine regarding stem cell transplantation for treatment of retinal degeneration: Stem Cells Promise Cure For Vision Loss Wednesday, April 19, 2006 New Delhi: Dr Rajender Prasad Centre for Opthalmic Sciences at AIIMS has been studying the effect of stem [Read More]
Gene Therapy Successful in Halting CNV
by Dan Roberts Researchers have been able to halt (at least temporarily) choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with gene replacement therapy. This was done by single injections into the eyeballs of patients during a phase I clinical trial. Here is more detail, as reported on January 17, 2006 by Genetic Engineering News (www.genengnews.com): Clinical Trial on Gene [Read More]
Stem Cells Have Restored Vision
by Dan Roberts November 2004 Scientists from Harvard’s Schepens Eye Research Institute have, for the first time, successfully improved the vision of mice with transplanted stem cells. Neural stem (progenitor) cells were obtained from day-old mice and grafted into the degenerating retinas of mature mice. The transplanted cells were then seen to develop into mature [Read More]