
Researchers have developed a new method of purifying stem cells that is faster, more efficient and less expensive than current methods for treating diseases of the retina.
The research was presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Colorado in May.
The new stem cell purification process involves growing stem cells on a special chip containing a computer system. Each stem cell is monitored closely, and the lower quality cells are removed as soon as they are identified.
Stem cell therapy is a rapidly growing field in ophthalmology. The goal of the therapy is to obtain enough of the exact type of stem cell required to get the best results. Researchers believe this new method could improve the effectiveness of stem cell research and therapy for eye disease.