Promising results for a treatment for blindness

Progressive blindness has been reversed in two patients with age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in people over 50. AMD damages the central portion of the retina, called the macula, which decreases vision over time, and can lead to blind spot formation. Phase 1 clinical trial results highlighting the effectiveness of a stem cell-based therapy were published … Continue reading Promising results for a treatment for blindness

From Seed to Organ: Growing a Liver

Over 17,000 Americans are currently waiting for liver transplants, with millions more living with chronic liver disease. There simply aren’t enough healthy organs to go around. So why not engineer them? Growing a liver “from scratch” by using its constituent cells could replace the need for whole organ transplants. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology generated hydrogels containing three different types of human cells, … Continue reading From Seed to Organ: Growing a Liver

21st Century Cures and You: A Guide to Understanding the 21st Century Cures Act

by Chris Rota figures by Dan Utter In the twilight of the Obama administration, a rare event of compromise between Democrats and Republicans resulted in the successful passage of the 21st Century Cures Act. While the law has a number of implications for healthcare, especially in the area of mental health, its greatest effects are likely to be seen in the area of biomedical research. … Continue reading 21st Century Cures and You: A Guide to Understanding the 21st Century Cures Act