Scientists use mice in promising glaucoma gene therapy study
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Research on gene therapy for glaucoma shows promise
MIAMI, Fla. – Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, resulting from irreversible loss of function of the optic nerve.
A recent study, supported by the National Eye Institute, found a form of gene therapy which could protect and preserve optic nerve cells in studies using mice.
“It’s an impressive finding. It’s in a high profile journal, however, these are studies in mice,” said Dr. Richard Lee with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “And we’re a little larger than mice in general so it has yet to be translated into clinical studies in humans. It is a good proof of principal especially since the vectors they used to give these genes into the cells are similar to the ones that we use currently in gene therapy studies,” Lee said.