• Question: How close are you to actually finding a cure for blindness.

    Asked by charlescharliecharles to Steve, Charlie on 15 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 14 Mar 2011:

      hi you have a really really good name there! Sadly you’ve got the wrong scientist here!

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hi Charlie

      There are lots of different types or causes of blindness, so its a bit like cancer, in that we’re not going to end up with a single cure. However, there are lots of scientists working with each type of blindness, and exciting progress is being made in many areas. At my own Institute, I have a colleague who a couple of years ago performed the first ever gene therapy for one form of blindness, and I have another colleague who will be testing stem cells in the eye next year. My own work is currently focused on developing ways of stopping abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye, and I hope we’re getting close to a new therapy.

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