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Stem cell therapy poised to advance treatment of retinal degeneration and vascular pathology

Research has demonstrated the capacity for systemically injected stem cells to preserve photoreceptors, maintain visual function and rescue vascular pathology. The exciting developments, reported in the online journal PloSONE (Wang & Lu et al, Vol. 5, Iss. 2, e9200; www.plosone.org), show that a simple systemic injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may soon find clinical application across a range of retinal pathologies including, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The achievements represent a significant milestone in the potential treatment of several retinal disorders and additionally present a strategy to develop a “one-size-fits-all” approach through the targeting of common characteristics found among many retinal diseases.