Retinal transplants made from iPS cells approved by the Osaka University Technical Committee Jan. 18:23
An expert committee at Osaka University has largely approved the world's first clinical study of transplanting retinas made from iPS cells into patients with severe eye diseases. The research group in Kobe City, which is proceeding with the plan, hopes to carry out the first transplant operation next summer if it is approved by the national review.
Kobe Eye Center Hospital and a group of RIKEN in Kobe City have transplanted a retina made from iPS cells from another person into a patient with an intractable disease called retinitis pigmentosa, a severe eye disease. I'm planning a clinical study.
The group had applied for this plan to a special committee of Osaka University last month, but the committee approved the plan broadly and the results were notified to the group by 30 days.
"Retinitis pigmentosa" is a disease that gradually loses light and leads to blindness as it progresses. It is estimated that there are approximately 40,000 patients in Japan, but there is currently no effective treatment.
In the future, the research group will apply to the government to conduct the research, and if approved, will perform the first transplant operation next summer.