Dry AMD

Possible Cause of Dry AMD Found

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have discovered one possible cause of dry macular degeneration.  The reduction of the Dicer enzyme in the retina is found in patients with geographic atrophy (a condition that causes death of retinal cells).  This is caused by an accumulation of a toxic type of RNA, which under normal circumstances would be degraded by the Dicer enzyme.  A reduced Dicer enzyme cannot control the toxic RNA and therefore the retinal cells die.  The U of K researchers, led by Dr.

FDA Approves Study Using Embryonic Stem Cells For Dry AMD

The FDA approved Advanced Cell Technology’s (ACT) clinical trial to test human embryonic stem cells for treating dry macular degeneration.  ACT makes retinal pigment epithelial cells from human embryonic stem cells and is starting to recruit patients for this study.  Court battles continue over the use of federal funds for stem cell research and funding gets frozen and unfrozen while the government  appeals. 

 

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