What is the significance of the 10-year follow-up on the iPS cell retina transplant in Japan?

The 10-year follow-up confirms the long-term safety and effectiveness of the world's first retina cell transplant using iPS cells.

Who was the recipient of the first iPS cell retina transplant by the Japanese research team?

The recipient was a woman in her 70s who had wet age-related macular degeneration.

What are the future plans for iPS cell treatment at Kobe City Eye Hospital?

The hospital plans to conduct transplants using RPE cells created from healthy donors' iPS cells.

Home / Health / Retina Transplant Success: 10 Years Safe, Vision Restored

Retina Transplant Success: 10 Years Safe, Vision Restored

6 Dec

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Summary

World's first retina cell transplant from iPS cells shows no abnormalities.
Patient, a woman in her 70s, received the transplant in September 2014.
Cells integrated successfully, showing no rejection or abnormal growth over 10 years.

Retina Transplant Success: 10 Years Safe, Vision Restored

A decade after the world's first transplant of retina cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), Japanese researchers have reported no abnormalities, including cancer. This landmark clinical test was conducted in September 2014 at Kobe City Eye Hospital and the Riken research institute.

The procedure involved transplanting retinal pigment epithelial cells, created from iPS cells, into a woman in her 70s suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration. This significant development underscores the long-term safety and efficacy of such regenerative therapies.

After ten years, the transplanted cells remain integrated within the patient's eye tissue without any signs of rejection or abnormal growth. The research team's findings bolster confidence in iPS cell treatments, paving the way for future transplants using donor-derived iPS cells.