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]
Category: Latest News
Human Retinal Stem Cells Discovered
by Dan Roberts Research in vision restoration has taken another step forward with the discovery of human retinal stem cells that have the ability to regenerate themselves. The announcement was made in October 2004 to the National Academy of Sciences by Derek Van der Kooy from the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of [Read More]
Sight From Fetal Cell Transplantation
by Dan Roberts January, 2003 (Updated September, 2004) Scientists are researching a new method of retinal transplantation in the continuing effort to restore sight to the blind. Drs. Robert Aramant and Magdalene Seiler (Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles) have had preliminary success transplanting double layers of cells from the retinas of aborted fetuses. The two [Read More]
Second AMD Gene Discovered
A second gene, called fibulin 5, has been shown to be related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The discovery was announced in the July 22, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine by a team from the Research Center for Macular Degeneration and Allied Retinal Diseases at the University of Iowa. Earlier research [Read More]
FFB-Sponsored Study Leads to Discovery of New AMD Gene
(Press release from the Foundation Fighting Blindness) October 21, 2003 An exciting gene discovery by an FFB-funded researcher adds to the growing proof that macular degeneration can be hereditary. This is the first gene mutation found that is directly tied to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The discovery of this gene mutation bolsters hope for a [Read More]