This book familiarizes the reader with the current landscape of cell-based therapies for the treatment of retinal disease, including diseases that affect the choriocapillaris, retinal pigment epithelium, photoreceptors, and retinal ganglion cells. Instead of utilizing a disease-centric approach to the topic, this book—edited by two world-renowned stem cell scientists—focuses on strategies for developing and transplanting the cells. This includes the creation of replacement cells, cell-based neuroprotection, and in vitro disease modeling and testing. The final chapters briefly review parallel approaches that do not directly utilize cellular transplantation. The use of cellular transplantation to treat retinal disease has recently become a viable and exciting therapeutic approach. The visibility of the retina and its laminar cellular architecture render it an ideal organ for the development of surgically delivered cellular therapies. Having an in-depth understanding of the current state of cell therapy for the eye is an essential first step toward utilizing similar approaches in other organs. Ophthalmologists, translational clinician-scientists, stem cell scientists, and researchers interested in eye disease will find Cellular Therapies for Retinal Disease: A Strategic Approach essential reading and it is also suitable for workshops or courses at the undergraduate or Ph.D. level.

This book discusses why specific diseases are being targeted for cell-based retinal therapy, what evidence exists that justifies optimism for this approach, and what challenges must be managed in order to bring this technology from the laboratory into routine clinical practice. There are a number of unanswered questions (e.g., surgical approach to cell delivery, management of immune response, optimum cell type to transplant) that very likely are not going to be answered until human trials are undertaken, but there is a certain amount of “de-risking” that can be done with preclinical experimentation. This book is essential reading for scientists, clinicians, and advanced students in stem cell research, cell biology, and ophthalmology.

In this volume, some of the leading authorities present their exploration of applications of stem cell therapy to the treatment of major causes of blindness, including degenerative diseases and glaucoma. The diagnostic approach to patients, general concepts of cell-based therapy, immunological considerations, approaches to cell delivery (including engineered scaffolds), combined cell and gene therapy, nanomedicine applications to cell therapy and regulatory issues pertaining to manufacture and production are all considered in detail. The book serves as an excellent introduction to a field that is now entering early-stage clinical trials and promises to operate at the leading edge of regenerative medicine. Retina specialists, general ophthalmologists as well as researchers will find here a wealth of information on the translational aspects of cell-based therapies. Further, business executives and students interested in understanding the potential applications of stem cell therapy to retinal degenerative disease and glaucoma will also find this book informative reading.

Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy in Neurodegenerative Disease, Volume 166 in the International Review of Neurobiology series, highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors who cover Challenges in translating a cell therapy to GMP, The challenges in developing a cell therapy for Huntington's disease, Challenges of cell therapies for retinal diseases, Challenges of gene therapy in Huntington's Disease, Technological advances and barriers to gene therapy, Considerations in the development of cell therapy modulation for spinal cord injury treatment, Challenges of developing glial cell therapy for ALS, and more. Other chapters in this comprehensive release include Exploring cell and gene therapy in current animal models of Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, Considerations for the use of biomaterials to support cell therapy in degenerative disease, Neurosurgical challenges/innovations in cell and gene therapy delivery, Neuroimaging: the challenge of harnessing imaging tools to facilitate cell and gene therapy in neurodegenerative diseases/The contribution and challenges for imaging in advanced therapies of movement disorders, Considerations for clinical trial design for novel advanced therapeutics in neurodegenerative disease, and More than a trial participant: The role of the patient in ATMP development and trials for neurodegenerative disease. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in International Review on Neurobiology serials - Updated release includes the latest information on Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy in Neurodegenerative Disease

Cell and Gene Therapies for Neurologic Diseases, Volume 205 comprehensively covers the scientific background, translational efforts, clinical developments and registered biologics that have entered into clinical practice. Coverage includes types of therapies available and in development, and best practice uses for a variety of neurological disorders including Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, stroke, spinal cord RP, demyelination, and epilepsy. As the emergence of gene and cellular therapeutics has changed the clinical landscape for a variety of disorders, and is now ready to do so for neurological diseases, these therapeutic modalities currently complement, and may in time, supplant small molecule drugs. - Summarizes advances in cell and gene therapy for neurological diseases - Describes the therapies available and in development - Includes surgical, ethical, and manufacturing considerations - Identifies best practices for specific neurological diseases - Covers Huntington's, Parkinson's, ALS, Stroke, Demyelination, epilepsy, and more

Vascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Distinguished clinical and surgical approaches have attempted to overcome its morbidity and mortality; still 17.9 million people die every year due to vascular affections. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Stem cells synthesize and secrete cytokines that promote cell recruitment, immunomodulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and neuroregeneration, all of which promote regeneration. Besides that, stem cells are also capable of differentiating in various cell types, being employed in tissue engineering. Preclinical and clinical investigations have reported efficacy of stem cell therapy for various vascular diseases. Even though results are encouraging, the studies demonstrate variation in stem cell type and origin, route and protocol for administration, and concomitant use of other treatment strategies, impairing easy interpretation of results and clinical application. The purpose of this book is to compile and comprise the current state of the evidence regarding stem cell therapy for each vascular disease, elucidating possible clinical applications. More than an objective guide for readers on the use of this novel treatment strategy, this publication will advocate for stem cell therapy use and development and will be of significant interest to physicians in a wide range of disciplines as well as researchers.

This is a reference handbook for young researchers exploring gene and cell therapy. Gene therapy could be defined as a set of strategies modifying gene expression or correcting mutant/defective genes through the administration of DNA (or RNA) to cells, in order to treat disease. Important advances like the discovery of RNA interference, the completion of the Human Genome project or the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc) and the basics of gene therapy are covered. This is a great book for students, teachers, biomedical researchers delving into gene/cell therapy or researchers borrowing skills from this scientific field.

Eye Diseases—Advances in Research and Treatment: 2012 Edition is a ScholarlyEditions™ eBook that delivers timely, authoritative, and comprehensive information about Eye Diseases. The editors have built Eye Diseases—Advances in Research and Treatment: 2012 Edition on the vast information databases of ScholarlyNews.™ You can expect the information about Eye Diseases in this eBook to be deeper than what you can access anywhere else, as well as consistently reliable, authoritative, informed, and relevant. The content of Eye Diseases—Advances in Research and Treatment: 2012 Edition has been produced by the world’s leading scientists, engineers, analysts, research institutions, and companies. All of the content is from peer-reviewed sources, and all of it is written, assembled, and edited by the editors at ScholarlyEditions™ and available exclusively from us. You now have a source you can cite with authority, confidence, and credibility. More information is available at http://www.ScholarlyEditions.com/.

Stem cell research is one of the leading "cutting edge" areas of life science research in the world today and is a topic of significant interest to a broad range of the medical and scientific community. This authoritative book provides reviews by the field's leading scientists and covers many of the areas in which stem cells are becoming increasingly important, such as in organ repair and regeneration. Stem cells offer the possibility of cell therapy issues to treat a myriad of diseases, conditions, and disabilities including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.