Podcast: Whole Eye Transplant, Gene Therapy and Other Visionary Breakthroughs in Ophthalmology
Director Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., discusses Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s whole eye transplant work.
Join us on the latest episode of “Inside U Miami Medicine” as we explore visionary breakthroughs in the field of ophthalmology with Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., director of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – the No. 1 eye hospital in the nation.
Dr. Alfonso and his colleagues at Bascom Palmer are at the forefront of innovative eye care therapies, addressing retinal diseases that affect millions worldwide. Bascom Palmer has its sights set on an ambitious project – whole eye transplant.
The eye has yet to be successfully transplanted. But new technology and Bascom Palmer’s latest research advancements are paving the way for potential breakthroughs. Dr. Alfonso and his colleagues are advancing an NIH-funded project that aims to restore vision by modifying a donated biological eye to make it functional for those suffering from blindness.
The team is currently utilizing an ECMO device to preserve the donated eye, enabling them to apply gene therapy and stem cells, replace specific parts of the organ and enhance its functionality.
The hope is that one day they will be able to transplant an upgraded eye into a patient.
“We’re working on cells while the eye is in the ECMO device to change its biological characteristics, so when it gets transplanted to the patient, it will look as much like part of that patient as it can,” said Dr. Alfonso, who is also the chairman of the department of ophthalmology and the Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Chair at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Bascom Palmer researchers are also experimenting with implanting computer chips inside the eye to send and receive images to and from the brain.
Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts to hear more about this fascinating venture, as well as other breakthroughs and challenges in the field that are providing new avenues for disease modeling, drug screening and cellular therapies.
Tags: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, ophthalmology, whole eye transplant