An agreement for clinical research on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) was concluded in May 2016 among four institutions: the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University (CiRA); Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital; the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University; and RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB).
Following this on 6 June, an implementation framework for clinical research was announced by: Professor Shinya Yamanaka, CiRA Director; Dr Ryuzo Sakata, Director of Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital; Dr Yasuo Kurimoto, Head of the Ophthalmology Department of Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital; Professor Yoshiki Sawa, Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University; Professor Koji Nishida of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University; Deputy Director of CDB Toshihiko Oguru; and Dr Masayo Takahashi, Leader of Retinal Regeneration Project of CDB.
In clinical studies begun in 2013, retinal pigment epithelium cell sheets derived from autologous iPS cells have been transplanted to patients. The newly launched clinical research includes not only transplanting using autologous iPS cells or cell sheets, but also allotransplantation, which will reduce preparation time, by utilizing a stockpile of iPS cells developed at CiRA.
In this framework, CiRA will generate iPS cells for use in regenerative medicine, and evaluate their quality. These cells will be provided RIKEN, which will prepare them for transplanting. The cells will then be transplanted to patients at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital and Osaka University Hospital.
(From left) Professor Nishida, Dean Sawa, Director Yamanaka, Project Leader Takahashi, Director Sakata, Dr Kurimoto, Deputy Director Oguru
Overview of transplantation implementation process and the roles of the four institutions
