National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have developed a surgical technique aimed at enhancing cell therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research, conducted in animal models, may improve treatment options for this leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. The study was published in JCI Insight.
AMD involves the degeneration of light-sensitive retina tissue. Current therapies under investigation involve grafts of lab-grown tissue from patient-derived stem cells to restore damaged retinas. Previously, surgeons could only place one graft in the retina, limiting treatment areas and comparative analysis in animal models. These comparisons are vital for confirming integration with the retina and its blood supply network, known as the choriocapillaris.
The new technique involves a surgical clamp that maintains eye pressure during the insertion of two tissue patches successively while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
In their experiments, researchers compared two different grafts placed sequentially within an AMD-like lesion induced experimentally. One graft contained retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells grown on a biodegradable scaffold. RPE cells support photoreceptors, which are essential for vision but deteriorate alongside RPE cells in AMD. In contrast, the second graft was merely the biodegradable scaffold serving as a control.
Artificial intelligence was used post-surgery to analyze retinal images and assess each graft's impact. Results showed that RPE grafts aided photoreceptor survival, whereas those near scaffold-only grafts had higher mortality rates. Moreover, it was confirmed for the first time that RPE grafts regenerated the choriocapillaris.
This research builds on capabilities demonstrated in an ongoing NIH-led clinical trial involving patient-derived RPE grafts for dry AMD.
The study received support from the National Eye Institute Intramural Research Program.
Kapil Bharti, Ph.D., scientific director at NEI, is available for interviews regarding this research.
Gupta R et al.'s work titled “iPSC-RPE patch preserves photoreceptors and regenerates choriocapillaris in a pig outer regina degeneration model” has been published on May 22, 2025, in JCI Insight.
For more information about NEI's efforts to eliminate vision loss through innovative research or details about NIH's broader medical research programs, visit their respective websites: www.nei.nih.gov and www.nih.gov.
