Page 14 - Gates-AnnualReport-2015

GATES CENTER
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
CU Department of Ophthalmology
Developing Mouse Eye (Courtesy of Tatiana Eliseeva, BS and Joe Brzezinski, PhD): Retinal stem cells (green) produce photoreceptors (purple). Photoreceptors die in diseases like age-related macular degeneration. Photoreceptors derived from patient-specific induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells could be used to treat macular degeneration. This image is displayed in the Gates Biomanufacturing Facility.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among Americans age 50 and older. More than 2 million Americans suffer from AMD, and the number of people affected is expected to increase 77% over the next 15 years. AMD involves breakdown of the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for sharp central vision. Macular rods and cones are nourished by pigmented epithelial cells, which allow them to respond to light and send electrical signals through the optic nerve to the brain. Degeneration of these macular cells leads to compromised central vision, reducing one’s ability to live independently and enjoy the visual world. The body does not have a natural way to heal or replace the retinal cells that are affected by AMD, and current treatments only slow the progressive cell loss that leads inevitably to reduced vision and blindness.
14 Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine