Using Cellular Reprogramming & CRISPR Technologies to Regenerate the Retina: Daniel Urrutia Cabrera скачать в хорошем качестве

Using Cellular Reprogramming & CRISPR Technologies to Regenerate the Retina: Daniel Urrutia Cabrera

Modern societies are predominantly built around visual cues, meaning patients living with visual impairment and blindness face major challenges that can severely impact their quality of life. Vision relies on a complex network of different neuronal subtypes that extend from the retina to the visual cortex. The photoreceptors begin the visual pathway in the retina by detecting and transforming the light from the environment into electrical signals that are later relayed to the brain. Human vision largely depends on cone photoreceptors, as they mediate our vision during daylight and the detection of colour. Photoreceptor loss is one of the main causes of blindness and visual impairment. Notably, the damages caused by the death of photoreceptors are irreversible and there are currently no effective treatments to restore vision once they are lost. Daniel’s project aims to stimulate the reprogramming of a supporting cell type of the retina, called Müller glia, into becoming novel cone photoreceptors to regenerate the damaged retina and reverse visual impairment. He uses in vitro models to optimise a protocol to reprogram Müller glia into cones. Subsequently, he employs a rat model with photoreceptor degeneration to assess the feasibility of translating his research team’s reprogramming protocol into a regenerative therapy to treat vision loss. This is the first study to pursue cone regeneration using cellular reprogramming technologies. In recognition of the quality and significance of his research, Daniel Urrutia Cabrera is the First Prize Winner in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category for the Royal Society of Victoria's Young Scientist Research Prizes in 2022.