Researchers Grow Retinal Nerve Cells in the Lab

Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.
The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.
Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at OPM.gov.

Work could eventually lead to cell transplants for people blinded by glaucoma, MS

November 30, 2015

Gene Therapy Genetics Glaucoma Neuroscience Optic Nerve Disorders Regenerative Medicine Retina Stem Cells

Translational Research

Grantee

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method to efficiently turn human stem cells into retinal ganglion cells, the type of nerve cells located within the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain. Death and dysfunction of these cells cause vision loss in conditions like glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The laboratory process is described in the journal Scientific Reports.