NEI Publishes Town Hall Report on Cell-Based Products for Treating Retinal Disease

Stem cell-based therapies hold great promise for replacing lost or damaged cells in the eye and restoring vision, according to The National Eye Institute, which published its Town Hall Report on cell-based products for treating retinal disease. The NEI has published "Stem cell sources and characterization in the development of cell-based products for treating retinal disease: An NEI town hall report." Based on input from subject matter experts, the report provides guidance for research in support of future clinical trials.

“This paper helps summarize considerations for making stem cells into a therapeutic reality,” said Tom Greenwell, PhD, who directs the NEI Office of Regenerative Medicine. 
 
The report addresses barriers to advancing the field of regenerative medicine for vision as well as opportunities to accelerate research. Topics include quality control, sourcing of stem cells, genetic modification and cellular reprogramming, immune considerations, and the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles—cell-secreted sacs that can contain regenerative factors. 
 
The town hall took place at the 2022 meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 

The report is available free for download from PubMed Central. 
 
Reference: 
Fortress AM, Miyagishima KJ, Reed AA, et al. Stem cell sources and characterization in the development of cell-based products for treating retinal disease: An NEI Town Hall report. Stem Cell Res Ther. Mar 29 2023;14(1):53. doi:10.1186/s13287-023-03282-y