Scientists have made a breakthrough advancement in the development of a cell therapy to treat blindness. A recent study showed that Retinal cells from a human cadaver eye can survive when transplanted into a primate model. The Retinal Pigment Epithelium, or RPE, is a layer of pigmented cells in the Retina which functions as a barrier and regulator to maintain vision. RPE dysfunction can lead to a multitude of eye disorders, including Age-related Macular Degeneration. The study found that RPE patches from donated adult cadaver eyes could partially replace the function of the RPE in the Macula of a non-human primate. Although the study suggests that donor RPE is safe to transplant, further studies are necessary to determine whether RPE stem cells from donated eyes could restore vision in human patients. Learn more about this fascinating study at http://bit.ly/3aeDYnl
