Treating advanced retinal degeneration rebuilding multiple co-dependent retinal layers with stem cells

Despite dozens of clinical trials (and countless animal trials) to regenerate the retina with stem cells, none have solved the challenge successfully. This is because the retina has many layers, and all layers are necessary in order to restore vision in patients with advanced retinal degeneration ~1M patients in Canada and >50M worldwide. Here, we developed a strategy that stratifies a suspension mixture of subretinal graft (including stem-cell-derived RPE and photoreceptors) into correct orientation and layering resulting in replacement of the lost retinal layers. This is all performed with standard outpatient retinal surgery techniques and infrastructure.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joanne Matsubara

Student:

Christopher Laver

Partner:

VisuCyte Therapeutics Inc

Discipline:

Visual arts

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: