by Dan Roberts August, 2002 Researchers at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center have discovered a genetic link to a form of macular degeneration. In an article published in August 2002 in Genome (“X-Linked Recessive Atrophic Macular Degeneration from RPGR Mutation,” pp. 166-171, doi:10.1006/geno.2002.6815, Radha Ayyagari, et al) the gene RPGR (associated until now [Read More]
Category: Research and Developments
Carbon Dioxide May Improve Vision in AMD Patients
by Dan Roberts April 2002 AMD patients are benefitting from a new combination drug therapy being tested at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC). The therapy involves a combination of medicines which includes carbon dioxide, an element which dilates the blood vessels in the retina for the maintenance of proper [Read More]
Cells From The Iris May Replace Retinal Photoreceptors
by Dan Roberts November 2001 An online publication of the December 2001 publication of Nature Neuroscience has reported that, with genetic manipulation, cells from the iris may be able to replace photoreceptor cells in the retina. In recent experiments, Dr. Masatoshi Haruta of Kyoto University and colleagues took iris cells from rat eyes, then introduced [Read More]
U-M Scientist Finds Clues in the Development of Light-Sensitive Eye Cells
by Betsy Nisbet November 2001 ANN ARBOR, MI – A paper published electronically by Nature Genetics offers important new insights into the development and differentiation of rod and cone photoreceptors, the light-sensitive cells in the eye’s retina that initiate vision and are essential for clear sight. A team led by Anand Swaroop, Ph.D., professor of [Read More]
Stem Cell Research: Hope With An Ethical Price Tag
by Dan Roberts August 2001 Background On The Research Stem cells are undeveloped structures which are able develop into any of the nearly 220 cell types that make up the human body, and which can theoretically reproduce themselves infinitely. Recent discovery of adult stem cells, or progenitor cells, in the eyes of adult rodents has [Read More]