Objetivo Blindness represents an increasing global problem with social and economic impacts both for the patients and society in general. Recent estimates indicate that the overall number of people with visual loss is 285 million globally, of whom 39 million are blind. In Europe, approximately 1 in 30 individuals experience sight loss and 75% of those are unemployed, a social burden which is anticipated to double by 2020 as the population of Europe ages. Diseases affecting the retina, the light sensitive extension of the central nervous system lining the back of the eye, account for approximately 26% of blindness. To date, there are no treatments to restore lost retinal cells and visual function and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. A pioneering breakthrough has highlighted the possibility of generating synthetic retinae from stem cells under laboratory conditions. This research is in its infancy and needs to be developed so human synthetic retinae can be produced efficiently and reproducibly from patient-specific stem cells. Very recently, my group has developed a unique method that results in conversion of human embryonic stem cells to fully laminated retinae containing all retinal cell types under laboratory conditions. In this project we aim: (1) to develop a robust differentiation method for generation of synthetic retinae that can be applied efficiently to a large number of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells; (2) to investigate that laboratory derived synthetic retinae contain functional retinal cells which are equivalent to native cells arising during human development and can contribute to restoration of vision upon transplantation into degenerate retinae and (3) to develop preclinical tools that will enable us to select functional retinal cells for cell replacement therapies in humans. Ámbito científico natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation Programa(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Tema(s) ERC-CG-2013-LS7 - ERC Consolidator Grant - Diagnostic Tools, Therapies and Public Health Convocatoria de propuestas ERC-2013-CoG Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación ERC-CG - ERC Consolidator Grants Institución de acogida UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Aportación de la UE € 1 599 857,00 Dirección KINGS GATE NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Región North East (England) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Tyneside Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Investigador principal Majlinda Lako (Prof.) Contacto administrativo Donna Armstrong (Mrs.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos Beneficiarios (1) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Reino Unido Aportación de la UE € 1 599 857,00 Dirección KINGS GATE NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne Ver en el mapa Región North East (England) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Tyneside Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Investigador principal Majlinda Lako (Prof.) Contacto administrativo Donna Armstrong (Mrs.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos
