Stem-cell-derived photoreceptor & RPE generation for retinal microfluidics

Worldwide, untreatable retinal degeneration & damage results in a staggering amount of suffering for >85 million blind patients across all age groups. In Canada, severe vision loss incurs the highest direct healthcare costs of any disease group (including: heart disease, diabetes, and cancer) – averaging $33,000/patient/year. While globally, age-related macular degeneration alone has an economic cost (loss) of >CAD$500 billion/year. The many monogenic (>200 types), and diabetic, forms of untreatable retinal degeneration, as well as retinal trauma and infections, more than double this societal cost each year. In this study, we are optimizing stem-cell-derived retinal graft production and transplant parameters for treating common forms of blindness.

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephanie Willerth

Student:

Partner:

Maxwell Therapeutics Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: