Towards Retinal Reconstitution

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The MIT Technology Review reports on progress towards regenerative medicine for blindness: "Scientists are taking the first major step in using stem cells to replace retinal cells lost to degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. ... [researchers] can reliably make retinal cells from embryonic stem cells. The researchers are now implanting the cells into blind animals to see if the cells can restore vision. ... If we can replace the photoreceptors, we think we can restore vision. ... The researchers don't yet know if the cells can actually integrate into the complex circuitry of the eye to restore vision, but early results are promising. ... We should know within the next year if the cells can restore vision."

Link: http://www.technologyreview.com/printer_friendly_article.aspx?id=17307