Millions of people facing blindness because of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) will receive respite thanks to UK stem cell research. The collaboration between world-famous Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College, both London based, will see a 45 minutes operation which is expected to enable surgeons to ‘patch ‘ the damage caused by the disease.
The treatment has a good chance of being as successful and common place as cataract surgery by around 2015.
In the UK about 25% of the population over 65 are affected by AMD, so this treatment will benefit many people. About half a million suffer from AMD at the moment in the UK.
Stem Cell Ethics Question
The treatment is controversial because it used embryonic stem cells – raising the questions of stem cell ethics. However, the huge benefits may convince all but the strongest opponents of embryonic stem cell research that the benefits are worth it.
Furthermore, as research methods become more sophisticated, it will be possible to carry out research like this using types of stem cells other than embryonic ones.
Story: Daily Express offline edition
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1 response so far ↓
1 Gunnsy // Jul 24, 2009 at 9:53 am
This is great news. Will it actually happen or will it take years to develope or be to expensive for the nhs i wonder
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