The next frontier of stem cell transplantation might involve the eyes.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear led the study, a Phase I/II clinical trial of 14 patients.
And theres a lot of pain and discomfort.
Ula Jurkunas and her surgical team performing a CALEC transplantation.© Mass Eye and Ear
Theyve developed a technique to safely collect and then grow healthy stem cells from a persons uninjured cornea.
All of the patients experienced at least some improvement in their visual acuity as well.
A lot of them have had a great transformative change in their symptoms.
Stem cells in culture collected from the first patient given a CALEC transplant. © Mass Eye and Ear
And these were really severe injuries with no current treatment beforehand.
But now theyre able to function, Jurkunas said.
I had one patient tell me, I actually got my life back.'
This procedure is still experimental, of course.
I think that this is a very big stepping stone for stem cell therapy in general.
Again, were not using stem cells from embryonic cells.
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