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01/05/2007
Trial begins to find childhood blindness cure
A clinical gene therapy trial has begun on order to test a revolutionary treatment for blindness in children.
The trial, which has received £1 million funding from the Department of Health, is the first of its kind and could have a significant impact on future treatments for eye disease.
The trial is being carried out by a team from University College London Institute of Opthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, led by Professor Robin Ali. The team includes leading eye surgeon James Bainbridge and leading retinal specialist Professor Tony Moore.
The trial involves adults and children who have 'inherited childhood blindness', a progressive deterioration in vision caused by an abnormality in a particular gene.
This defect prevents normal function of their retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye.
There are currently no effective treatments available for this condition.
The new technique involves inserting normal copies of the gene into the cells of the retina to help them function normally. This is achieved by an operation to deliver the normal genes to the retina, using a harmless virus or 'vector' to carry the gene into the cells.
Professor Ali said: "We have been developing gene therapy for eye disease for almost 15 years but until now we have been evaluating the technology only in the laboratory. Testing it for the first time in patients is very important and exciting and represents a huge step towards establishing gene therapy for the treatment of many different eye conditions."
So far, the operation has been performed in young adult patients who developed the condition as children. Mr Bainbridge, who leads the surgical team, said: "It is very encouraging that we can deliver genes to an extremely fragile site in the eye without complications. It will be many months before we know the outcome of the procedure but we can expect the best outcome in younger patients."
Gene therapy is the deliberate introduction of genetic material into human somatic cells for therapeutic, preventative or diagnostic purposes.
The therapies study target inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, infectious diseases such as HIV infection and vascular (heart) disease.
Over 70% of trials are for the treatment of cancer.
Health Minister Lord Hunt said: "This new trial is a global first of its kind and could mean the ability to restore sight to children with this condition. The UK leads Europe in gene therapy with over 40% of clinical trials, and we are second only to the US."
(KMcA/SP)
The trial, which has received £1 million funding from the Department of Health, is the first of its kind and could have a significant impact on future treatments for eye disease.
The trial is being carried out by a team from University College London Institute of Opthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, led by Professor Robin Ali. The team includes leading eye surgeon James Bainbridge and leading retinal specialist Professor Tony Moore.
The trial involves adults and children who have 'inherited childhood blindness', a progressive deterioration in vision caused by an abnormality in a particular gene.
This defect prevents normal function of their retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye.
There are currently no effective treatments available for this condition.
The new technique involves inserting normal copies of the gene into the cells of the retina to help them function normally. This is achieved by an operation to deliver the normal genes to the retina, using a harmless virus or 'vector' to carry the gene into the cells.
Professor Ali said: "We have been developing gene therapy for eye disease for almost 15 years but until now we have been evaluating the technology only in the laboratory. Testing it for the first time in patients is very important and exciting and represents a huge step towards establishing gene therapy for the treatment of many different eye conditions."
So far, the operation has been performed in young adult patients who developed the condition as children. Mr Bainbridge, who leads the surgical team, said: "It is very encouraging that we can deliver genes to an extremely fragile site in the eye without complications. It will be many months before we know the outcome of the procedure but we can expect the best outcome in younger patients."
Gene therapy is the deliberate introduction of genetic material into human somatic cells for therapeutic, preventative or diagnostic purposes.
The therapies study target inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, infectious diseases such as HIV infection and vascular (heart) disease.
Over 70% of trials are for the treatment of cancer.
Health Minister Lord Hunt said: "This new trial is a global first of its kind and could mean the ability to restore sight to children with this condition. The UK leads Europe in gene therapy with over 40% of clinical trials, and we are second only to the US."
(KMcA/SP)
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24 June 2003
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The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
02 August 2004
Gene therapy trial for cancer patients gets green light
The green light has been given for a large clinical trial of a new gene therapy treatment for patients with Glioma - one of the most aggressive types of brain tumours for which there is currently no cure. The new gene therapy treatment involves injecting Herpes simplex virus into the brain tumours of Glioma patients.
Gene therapy trial for cancer patients gets green light
The green light has been given for a large clinical trial of a new gene therapy treatment for patients with Glioma - one of the most aggressive types of brain tumours for which there is currently no cure. The new gene therapy treatment involves injecting Herpes simplex virus into the brain tumours of Glioma patients.
10 July 2009
Gene Defect Linked To Allergy, BMJ Finds
Defects in a particular gene - the filaggrin gene - are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing allergic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma, concludes a study published on bmj.com today. Allergic diseases have increased in recent decades and now affect up to one in three children in economically developed countries.
Gene Defect Linked To Allergy, BMJ Finds
Defects in a particular gene - the filaggrin gene - are associated with a significantly increased risk of developing allergic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma, concludes a study published on bmj.com today. Allergic diseases have increased in recent decades and now affect up to one in three children in economically developed countries.
29 March 2004
Research in genetic disorders gets £4m funding boost
The government has said that it will plough £3 million into clinical trials and research into the genetic disorders of haemophilia, muscular dystrophy and childhood blindness. A further £1 million will be used to support research into the long-term safety of some techniques used in gene therapy, the Health Secretary John Reid said today.
Research in genetic disorders gets £4m funding boost
The government has said that it will plough £3 million into clinical trials and research into the genetic disorders of haemophilia, muscular dystrophy and childhood blindness. A further £1 million will be used to support research into the long-term safety of some techniques used in gene therapy, the Health Secretary John Reid said today.
04 January 2005
£2.5m to support cystic fibrosis gene therapy research
Health Minister, Lord Warner, has announced the winning bids for £2.5 million to support further research into gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF).
£2.5m to support cystic fibrosis gene therapy research
Health Minister, Lord Warner, has announced the winning bids for £2.5 million to support further research into gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (CF).
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