Sai Hemanth Chavala, MD

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - New Investigator

Project Title: "Role of SOX2 and PAX6 in adult ciliary body progenitor"

 

Loss of central vision significantly impairs the quality of life of patients suffering from retinal degeneration, and renders some patients unable to function independently or enjoy their surroundings. The common denominator of retinal degeneration is the loss of functioning retinal neurons. These are cells that comprise the retina, and are responsible for processing light rays into visual information that is relayed to the brain, leading to the perception of sight. When retinal neurons are damaged by injury or disease, they are no longer capable of processing visual information. Loss of vision can result from direct damage to retinal neurons or from an inadequately functioning supporting pigmented layer underneath the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium.

Stem/progenitor cells provide a unique and exciting strategy for replacing damaged retinal cells or retinal pigment epithelial cells in almost all forms of retinal degeneration. In general, stem/progenitor cells are cells that possess the capacity to make new cells that replace damaged tissue as a result of injury or disease. There are several sources of stem cells that can be used for this purpose; some are derived from embryos, while others are derived from the organs of adults. Adult organ-specific stem cells are attractive because these stem cells are thought to be restricted to creating progeny that are restricted to a specific organ, unlike embryonic stem cells that possess the capacity to produce a wide variety of cells from different organs. Controlling the cellular diversity that results from embryonic stem cells has been difficult, and tumors consisting of various cell types have been reported from the use of embryonic stem cells. Recently, a progenitor cell population has been discovered in the ciliary body, a region adjacent to the retina near the lens of the adult eye. This region is readily accessible using current surgical techniques, and warrants further study as a tool to replace damaged retinal neurons and retinal pigment epithelial cells. The use of patient specific retinal progenitor cells (cells derived from the patient’s own eye) provides an exciting opportunity to restore visual function for patients who currently have few or no options.