We use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to help us to investigate RPE diseases. iPSCs are similar to human embryonic stem cells and can grow into any cell type in the body. Our lab creates iPSCs from patients and turns them into RPE. These eye cells, created in a dish, contain the same genes as the patient, including the genes responsible for causing eye disease. We use our patient derived iPSC-RPE to find out what early events occur in inherited disease, to find new disease pathways and identify targets for the development of new therapies to stop or prevent vision loss.
Publications
