Stem cell therapy for age-related retinal disease

Retinal disease remains a significant cause of blindness to date. It is much more prevalent in the older population. Treatment efforts to restore retinal function through transplantation have been made for decades. Stem cells of embryonic and adult origin are just beginning to be studied for their potential to differentiate into retinal neurons and incorporate into damaged retinas. Researchers have demonstrated that grafted stem cells survive, migrate, differentiate and integrate within the retina to degrees not observed with other cellular sources. These transplants adopt retina-like morphologies and show synaptic reconnection and some visual recovery in animal studies. Our understanding of stem cell biology and of biochemical ways to manipulate these cells into becoming specific phenotypes is deepening. Further investigation is needed in order to achieve better results before efforts can move into human trials.