A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago recently received a multi- million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defence.  The grant will be used to perform a very large clinical trial into the use of stem cells for treating eye injuries.

The trial will use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — a form of multipotent stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into other types of cells including bone, fat, and cartilage cells.  MSCs have also been shown to release compounds that have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory compounds in MSCs can reduce scarring and speed up healing in experimental models of eye injuries.   The clinical trials will test if these experimental models are correct.

Researchers have been studying the use of stem cells for eye injuries for many years, as Dr. Ali Djalilian, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences in the UIC College of Medicine, explains:

“We have been studying the healing properties of mesenchymal stem cells in the eye with funding from the Department of Defence for the last five years,” he continued, “We have seen that these cells, when applied to the surface of the eye, can play a significant supportive role in healing and promoting healing in such a way as to reduce scarring. We are looking forward to clinical trials of these cells in humans.”

Injuries to the eye are very common amongst service members in combat roles.  They are often caused by explosions and chemical burns to the eye.  While these injuries are usually not life threatening, the loss of vision caused by an eye injury can dramatically impact a person’s quality of life.

The clinical trial will be performed at 11 medical centres in the United States, Brazil and India.   The funding made available by the Department of Defence is sufficient to pay for both phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials, giving researchers the ability to test the regenerative capacity of stem cells thoroughly.

Initially, the trial will involve 220 participants.  It will vie focused on the efficacy and safety of stem cell treatments for non-healing corneal injuries.

Source: Researchers receive DoD grant to test efficacy of stem cell therapy for eye injuries

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