Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 5, 2008 5:08:25 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Gene Breakthrough Aids Blind

Posted Apr 28, 08 2:42 AM CDT in Science & Health    Most Covered

(Newser) – A rare and incurable congenital disease which causes blindness has been successfully treated for the first time using gene therapy, Reuters reports. Doctors inserted a healthy gene directly into one eye of patients suffering from Leber congenital amaurosis using a genetically engineered cold virus. Patients reported an improvement in their eyesight even though none was expected.  

The disease damages light receptors in the retina and usually causes total blindness by the age of 30. "This result is important for the entire field of gene therapy," said the lead researcher of one of the studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Genetic research to treat illness suffered serious setbacks in recent years when some experiments went awry.

Source Reuters

Editor Recommended

Related News

  • Skin Stem Cells Cure Sickle Cell in Mice

    Dec 7, 07 3:28 AM CST
    Skin Stem Cells Cure Sickle Cell in Mice In the latest advance in revolutionary new stem cell research, scientists have cured sickle-cell anemia in mice using stem cells made from skin. It's the first proof that such cells can be used to cure hereditary diseases. But because the cure involved the use of viruses to alter DNA, significant changes would have to be made before the technique could be used on humans. More »

  • Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Delivers Major Results

    Nov 20, 07 4:47 AM CST
    Gene Therapy for Parkinson's Delivers Major Results New evidence indicates that the first gene therapy for Parkinson's disease has achieved measurable success. Brain scans of patients receiving the treatment confirmed significant changes, supporting earlier anecdotal accounts of 65% improvements in mobility and other gains, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More »

  • Alternative to the Pill Has No Side Effects

    Oct 17, 07 2:47 PM CDT
    Alternative to the Pill Has No Side Effects Contraception without the nausea, headaches, mood swings, weight gain, or heart attacks? Scientists are developing a non-hormonal patch that would side-step the side effects associated with the Pill by simply blocking a protein that allows sperm to bond with egg, the Telegraph reports. But don’t get too excited—it could take a decade to develop. More »

  • New Studies Give Hope to Parkinson's Patients

    Jun 22, 07 4:25 AM CDT
    New Studies Give Hope to Parkinson's Patients Two new experimental treatments for Parkinson's could stop the progress of the devastating disease and allay its symptoms, researchers say. A new study shows gene therapy was successful in boosting production of an enzyme that calms overactive neurons, reducing the jittery effects of the brain disorder. More »

  • Bald Take Note: Mice Grow New Hair Follicles

    May 17, 07 8:11 AM CDT
    Bald Take Note: Mice Grow New Hair Follicles In what could lead to a cure for baldness, scientists have discovered a technique for regrowing hair in an adult mammal for the first time. University of Pennsylvania researchers suceded in stimulating the growth of new skin complete with hair follicles in mice, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. More »

A patient undergoing a PET scan after gene therapy at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Doctors at the hospital report a breakthrough impacting the whole field.   (KRT Photos)
Steven Howarth, 18, playing guitar at his home in Bolton, England. He is one of several blind patients experimentally treated with gene therapy.   (AP Photo/BBC)
Dr. Albert Maguire and wife Dr. Jean Bennett at the University of Pennsylvania. The two are among two teams of scientists using gene therapy to treat blind patients.   (AP Photo)
prev    next
play

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

gene therapy


Loading...

Loading...

Related Thread: Medical Breakthroughs

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular


Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »