Abstract

Several clinical trials of cell based therapy for retinal disease are currently recruiting worldwide. This clinical translation is based on over a decade of research into retinal development and physiology. One approach is to generate an appropriate replacement from stem cells, another is to use their paracrine restorative qualities. In tandem, surgical research into autologous retinal transplantation has evolved techniques to manipulate grafts into the subretinal space. The eye is an ideal organ for an experimental cell based therapy due to its transparency and the immune privilege conferred by the blood retina barrier.

The first trials have focused on the replacement of the retinal pigment epithelium but ultimately elements of the neural retina must be transplanted to address diseases such as advanced age related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Medium and long term follow up of these trials is eagerly awaited.