This project aims to reverse vision impairment resulting from inherited retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).
Summary
Recent advances in therapeutic ophthalmology including the application of gene therapy has shown considerable promise. Gene therapy trials for Retinitis Pigmentosa have demonstrated the ability to restore vision in several animal models. More recently, human trials have been conducted with early results showing considerable promise. This project brings this remarkable therapeutic initiative to the Kingdom where retinal dystrophies are a significant cause of disability.
Our collaborator for this project is the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California, San Diego, California, USA. Shiley is dedicated to serving members of our population who face challenges associated with restricted vision. Other collaborators include John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, USA and the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Other partners include the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) and the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH).