ISSCR News
New Podcast Episode. Climbing the Scientific Mountain of Retinal Regeneration
Collectively, retinal degenerative disorders are a major cause of blindness worldwide. For example, one of the most common disorders is age related macular degeneration, which alone affects nearly 200 million globally. In humans, and other mammals, the loss of the retinal cells is an irreversible process. However, in some non-mammalian vertebrates like frogs and fish, retinal neurons can regenerate. This process is dependent upon Müller glia, which can re-enter the cell cycle and reprogram into neurogenic progenitors upon retinal injury or disease. Progress has been made in understanding the genetic program underlying these regenerative process, and proof-of-principle experiments in the adult mouse retina demonstrated that genetic programs in frog and fish can be coopted to induce neurogenesis in mammals. Our guests today have extended this research to genetically reprogram fetal or organoid-derived human Müller glia into retinal neurons. They will talk about this work, the background underlying it and its potential applications.
Member Spotlight: Elaine Fuchs, PhD
ISSCR is a wonderful international community of colleagues. Science has no borders and scientists are in many ways able to cut across political boundaries, and admire and learn from each other no matter where we live and work.
The ISSCR Provides Comments on FDA’s Draft Guidance for Potency Assurance for Cellular and Gene Therapy Products
On 5 March 2023, the ISSCR submitted comments on the Food and Drug Administration’s draft guidance for Potency Assurance for Cellular and Gene Therapy (CGT) Products. ISSCR appreciates FDA’s commitment to assuring the potency of human CGT products at all stages of the product lifecycle. This guidance from the FDA will help our members, who are at the forefront of research and innovation, in their work.
Bayer and BlueRock Therapeutics Join the City of Hamburg and Life Sciences Nord to Co-Sponsor ISSCR 2024 in Hamburg, Germany
Find your inspiration at ISSCR 2024, The Global Stem Cell Event, taking place 10-13 July 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. The international stem cell community’s most anticipated event of the year showcases impactful research and clinical applications in a field that is driving clinical advances with the potential to bring new approaches to alleviating intractable diseases and disorders.
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