UK team uses stem cells to restore mice retinas

A London-based group of researchers led by Dr. Robert E. MacLaren has successfully restored the sight of blind mice by implanting a new set of light-sensing cells in their retinas. They took a collection of developing night vision cells--called rods--from healthy mice and injected them into the blind mice. For the team, it's hard scientific proof of the theory that science can reverse the blindness resulting from the death of light-sensing cells. Their work points to new therapies that may rely on embryonic stem cells to provide fresh rods or the use of healthy cells from donors. The work indicates that immature progenitor cells, which are developing into light-sensing cells, are the best for restoring sight. Retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa affect some 9 million people in the U.S. alone.

- read the report on stem cell research from The Boston Globe