Grant boosts RP research into transplantation

Salt Lake City-A $100,000 grant to the University of Utah's John A. Moran Eye Center will support continued research into retinal cell transplantation in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

The grant from the Stephen A. and Elaine Wynn Charitable Foundation will fund the work of Raymond D. Lund, PhD, the Calvin S. and Janeal N. Hatch Presidential Endowed Chair and professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Utah.

Dr. Lund and colleagues demonstrated in 2002 that vision could be preserved in rats born with vision loss similar to RP in humans by transplanting healthy cells from human biopsy specimens into their eyes.

New research funded with the grant will evaluate safety issues, how late in the animal's life transplantation can be effective, and how to translate the laboratory experience to the clinic.OT