Two patients receiving embryonic stem cells for their blinding retinal diseases reported improvement in their vision. The results were released just last week online in the medical journal Lancet. Each patient received retinal epithelial pigment cells (aka RPE cells) grown from human embryonic stem cells. RPE cells are the faulty cells in macular diseases such as ARMD and Stargardt's Disease. … [Read more...]
Stem Cells for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy and Macular Degeneration
August 2, 2011 By 20 Comments
Advanced Cell Technology recently announced the beginning of their landmark trial where stem cells are transplanted into patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (aka Stargardt's Disease) and dry macular degeneration. Clinical Trials for Stargardt's Begin The company announced that their phase I/II clinical trials started in mid-July with one patient each of either Stargardt's or … [Read more...]
Stem Cells Get FDA Nod for Stargardt’s Disease
December 9, 2010 By 26 Comments
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., received FDA approval for starting Phase I/II clinical trial to use stem cells for the treatment of Stargardt's disease. Stargardt's disease is an inherited type of macular degeneration affecting individuals at age 10-20. There is no cure. Similar to other macular diseases, the photoreceptors, and the layer of cells just beneath, call the retinal pigment … [Read more...]
Part 2: Transplanting Stem Cells to Treat Macular Degeneration
October 8, 2009 By 2 Comments
In the last post, we identified the Retinal Pigment Epithelium as the layer in the retina that becomes diseased in macular degeneration. The cells, once damaged, do not have the ability to divide, regenerate or regrow. Thus, permanent damage (i.e. loss of vision) ensues. By The Way. There are two basic types of stem cells; embryonic stem cells and adult (or somatic) stem cells. While … [Read more...]
Part 1: Introduction to Stem Cells and Retinal Disease
October 7, 2009 By 6 Comments
This is the first of a small series regarding stem cells and their potential benefits to retinal diseases; principally macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. As diabetic retinopathy is primarily a disease of blood vessels, i.e.poor blood flow, loss of blood flow, leaking vessels, etc., macular degeneration is actually a disease of one of the layers of the retina. Specifically, the … [Read more...]
