Researchers from MIPT have created a technique that keeps human donor retina alive in a lab setting for up to two weeks, enabling gene therapy testing before animal trials. This innovation was shared by Izvestia, citing Alsallum Almakdad, head of the retinopathy gene therapy group.
According to him, retina fragments are obtained posthumously from donors and, within six hours, are processed and placed into a specialized nutrient solution on membrane inserts.
This method allows for direct examination of how viral vectors interact with human tissue while preserving its complex structure and all cell types. It offers a major edge over traditional preclinical animal testing, whose outcomes often fail to replicate in the human eye, while also being costly and raising ethical concerns.
The technology aims to speed up the development of treatments for common retinal conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and age-related macular degeneration, which affect millions worldwide.
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