Retinal repair
When the retina is damaged, vision is affected considerably. Unfortunately, for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide with retinal degeneration, this light-sensing part of the eye has so far proved impossible to repair. However, as researchers refine their ability to manipulate stem cells, hopes of a solution are being raised. Whether by growing fresh cells and then transplanting them into the retina, or by building entire retinas from scratch, the future is looking clearer.
This Nature Outline is editorially independent. It is produced with third party financial support. About this content.
Nature is pleased to acknowledge the financial support of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in producing this Outline. The sponsor retains sole responsibility for the following message.
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, co-located with its partner Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on a joint site in London, have a long-established leading global reputation centred on fundamental discovery research, and translating this new knowledge to understand and treat eye conditions. In recognition of our research excellence, our partnership obtained a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) infrastructure award in 2007, and was awarded a third term in 2017. This partnership award allows us to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in biomedical research for patient benefit.
Jointly, we have trained and educated leaders in ophthalmic research and clinical practice, who hold prestigious positions globally. We attract researchers and students of the highest international calibre. In the 2017 Centre for World University Rankings, UCL was ranked the best place in the world to study ophthalmology.
We aspire to continue our role as a global leader in driving discovery, harnessing technological advances and developing new treatments, to understand vision, visual loss, and for the benefit of patients.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Institute of Ophthalmology, the NIHR BRC is sponsoring this Nature Outline to highlight our recent achievements and advances in retinal stem cells.
