Inherited retinal disease targeted by research

Vision loss charity Fight for Sight has funded research at University College London (UCL) that will explore whether gene editing could be used to repair faults in genes for some inherited retinal diseases.

‘We are so pleased to fund this pioneering gene editing study at UCL, which if successful, will lead to a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases that currently cannot be treated.’ said Sherine Krause, chief executive at Fight for Sight.

Researchers, led by Dr Jacqui van der Spuy, hope the study will benefit people who have inherited eye diseases that are not at present suitable for gene therapy treatment, including Stargardt disease, some forms of retinitis pigmentosa and Leber’s congenital amaurosis.