Stem Cell Technology Generates Corneal Tissue - Dr. Riazuddin | Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund

The eye is an incredibly complex organ that allows us to take in information from our surrounding world through sight. The cornea is the first layer of the eye, which helps us focus light and protect our eyes. As the outermost layer of the eye, the cornea is the most prone to damage. When the cornea is damaged, patients are in pain and in some cases can become blind. The current treatment for a damaged cornea is a cornea transplant; however, donor cornea is extremely limited. Dr. Amer Riazuddin and his lab at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, are using stem cell technology to generate corneal tissue that can be used in place of the cornea from a donor.
Dr. Amer Riazuddin is an awardee of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund. To learn more about the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF), visit www.mscrf.org.
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The cornea, the outermost part of an eye, focuses the light inward. When the cornea is damaged, patients are in severe pain and, in some cases can become blind. The corneal endothelium is also responsible for preventing aqueous humor, the clear liquid near the front of the eye, from uncontrollably flowing into the cornea. If the corneal endothelium does not hold the aqueous humor, the cornea can swell, also known as corneal edema, and impair vision.
The current treatment for a damaged cornea is a corneal transplant. However, these transplants depend on donor tissue availability, which is not readily available in all parts of the world. While some groups are working on synthetic alternatives, these have yet to be successful or viable as a standard treatment. Both endothelial keratoplasty (cornea from a donor) and keratoprosthesis (synthetic cornea) are also costly treatment options. Therefore, a need for a more cost-efficient and available alternative is paramount.
Dr. Amer Riazuddin and his lab at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, are currently developing stem cell technology to generate cornea endothelium from cryo-preserved pluripotent stem cells. In their work supported by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF), the Riazuddin lab demonstrated that injection of human stem cell-derived corneal endothelial cells resulted in corneal endothelium restoration in both rabbits and primates during preclinical trials. Remarkably, the corneal endothelium was healthy long-term post-injection, with no signs of immune rejection or tumor formation.
These therapies can benefit patients worldwide, as cryo-preserved human stem cells can be transported to clinics and readily used. This has the potential to help many patients in countries with long waitlists awaiting donor tissue transplants. Dr. Riazuddin’s work, supported by the MSCRF, is moving onto the clinical phase of the project and toward a solution for a corneal endothelium transplant.
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