November 8, 2006

opthalmologist comments on Nature paper on retinal transplants in mice

Medical Research Council (MRC) scientists have published a report showing how they ‘cured blindness’ in mice using retinal stem cells implanted into their eyes.

Andrew Dick, Professor of Opthalmology, University of Bristol, said:

“This study shows for the first time that cells transplanted into the retina of mice can integrate and can function as photoreceptors. As with any basic research we have to be careful not to overhype, however this is a stunning piece of research that may in the distant future may lead to transplants in humans to relieve blindness. It will open up a number of avenues of research for scientists to refine these techniques and also for us to understand how photoreceptors develop. It is also important to note the cells they transplanted were not true stem cells, instead they were early developing retinal cells.”