About the project:

The project aims to develop a standardized, safe and efficient method for curing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – the most frequent cause of visual impairment that currently lacks treatment. The work will bring promising retina pigment epithelial (RPE) cell research to a clinical trial using patient-derived stem cell therapy. The Specific aims are focused at: 1) isolation, cultivation and optimization of human RPE cells, primary hRPEs and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived RPEs; 2) preparation of nanofibrous scaffold; 3) transplantation of hRPE-covered scaffolds in the subretinal space; 4) non-invasive (OCT, mfERG) and end-stage cell and tissue characterization (IHC, tEM); 5) establishment of good manufacturing practice (GMP) protocols and clinical-grade cell banking.

Beneficiary and project partners:

Ústav živočišné fyziologie a genetiky AV ČR, v. v. i.
Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady
University of Oslo
Ústav makromolekulární chemie AV ČR, v. v. i.