Some good news today as the pioneering induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cell trial led by Dr. Masayo Takahashi will resume.
This clinical study with a focus on macular degeneration has been on hold for quite some time due to regulatory changes in Japan. There had also been concerns over mutations in the 2nd patient’s IPS cell product.
As previous signs had indicated, the new clinical work will have an allogeneic focus, most likely drawing IPS cells from a bank.
According to a Japan Times article:
For the second trial, the CDB will develop retinal tissues from iPS cells supplied by Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, headed by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, the creator of the pluripotent cells.
Transplants of CDB-developed retinal tissues will be conducted at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital and Osaka University Hospital.
This is exciting and I’m very curious to see how this clinical work develops.
In 2014, Dr. Takahashi won my Stem Cell Person of the Year Award.
This may also signal a door opening for other IPS cell trials in Japan including one for Parkinson’s Disease by Jun Takahashi.
I am 41, macular degeneration case. Desperately waiting results of Dr Masayo Takahashi trails conducted in 2016. Do anyone know if the news is positive. I am loosing my vision rapidly, PLEASE HELP.
Can someone tell us if RP cure is in a good hope in near future?
Will there be trials for Retinitis Pigmentosa and if so how would one go about applying to be part of the study?
This follows the announcement last week by the Japanese Health Ministry of standards they’ve set up for iPSC transplants, http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Japan-sets-safety-standards-for-iPS-cell-transplants
This is exactly what Dr.Takahashi explained to us on this very blog and now I’m curious to know if they will need to do any new preclinical studies in the light of the new regulations, or if their previous work already covers this.
@admin – and “groundbreaking” doesn’t count as a criterion for “pioneering” in my book. first of its kind” is a bit better. So, is the Stanford trial a) “groundbreaking” and b) “first of its kind” and therefore “pioneering”?
@admin – I’m not the one making the claim. I’m just wondering what your criteria is. Does the Stanford stroke trial qualify?
@Bill,
Groundbreaking. First of its kind.
How would you define a pioneering trial?
Paul
@admin – You describe this trial as “pioneering”. What criteria do you use to determine which stem cell trials are pioneering and which are not?
Hi doctor can i attend any trials if any don ng