Back by popular demand (well, at least a handful of you demanded it!) we’re pleased to present the third installment of our Stem Cells in Your Face video series. Episodes one and two set out to explain – in a light-hearted, engaging and clear way – the latest progress in CIRM-funded stem cell research related to Lou Gehrig’s disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS) and sickle cell disease.
With episode three, Eyeing Stem Cell Therapies for Vision Loss, we turn our focus (pun intended) to two CIRM-funded clinical trials that are testing stem cell-based therapies for two diseases that cause severe visual impairment, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Two Clinical Trials in Five Minutes
Explaining both the RP and AMD trials in a five-minute video was challenging. But we had an ace up our sleeve in the form of descriptive eye anatomy animations graciously produced and donated by Ben Paylor and his award-winning team at InfoShots. Inserting these motion graphics in with our scientist and patient interviews, along with the fabulous on-camera narration by my colleague Kevin McCormack, helped us cover a lot of ground in a short time. For more details about CIRM’s vision loss clinical trial portfolio, visit this blog tomorrow for an essay by my colleague Don Gibbons.
Vision Loss: A Well-Suited Target for Stem Cell Therapies
Of the wide range of unmet medical needs that CIRM is tackling, the development of stem cell-based treatments for vision loss is one of the furthest along. There are a few good reasons for that.
The eye is considered to be immune privileged, meaning the immune system is less accessible to this organ. As a result, there is less concern about immune rejection when transplanting stem cell-based therapies that did not originally come from the patient’s own cells.
The many established, non-invasive tools that can peer directly into the eye also make it an attractive target for stem cell–based treatment. Being able to continuously monitor the structure and function of the eye post-treatment will be critical for confirming the safety and effectiveness of these pioneering therapies.
Rest assured that we’ll be following these trials carefully. We eagerly await the opportunity to write future blogs and videos about encouraging results that could help the estimated seven million people in the U.S. suffering from disabling vision loss.
Related Links:
Stem Cellar archive: retinitis pigmentosa
Stem Cellar archive: macular degeneration
Video: Spotlight on Retinitis Pigmentosa
Video: Progress and Promise in Macular Degeneration
CIRM Fact Sheet on Vision Loss
The Stem Cellar 
Very interesting–I’m wondering if you have or are contemplating working on patients that have retinal damage from long term use of Plaquinil for R.A. ? Thanks R.Paul Hoff M.D.
Thank you for the feedback. Our institute has provided funding support to several research projects related to vision loss though none specifically focus on Plaquinil-induced retinal damage. Here is a list of our vision loss grants: https://www.cirm.ca.gov/grants?field_public_web_disease_focus_tid%5B%5D=981
I haveMAchula degeneration in both eyes and I am interested ingetting some treatment via STEM CELL treatment. Could you possibly ADVISEme THank you.
Dear Bruce, Thanks for reaching out to us. Our agency is funding a stem cell-based clinical trial sponsored by Regenerative Patch Technologies for the treatment of the dry form of macular degeneration. Please visit the following link for more information including email addresses to contact. Kind regards.https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02590692?term=%22regenerative+patch+technologies%22&rank=1