New stem cell research may cure blindness due to macular degeneration.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. has filed a request with the FDA to test a treatment for macular degeneration. Advanced Cell would be conducting the clinical trial with the Foundation Fighting Blindness which is bound by National Institute of Health (N.I.H.) regulations. A proposal by the N.I.H. would expand it's current definition of human embryonic stem cells which would enable researchers that it finances to work with cells derived from blastomeres. Advanced Cell pioneered the development of embryonic stem cells from blastomeres and has since learned how to convert these cells into the specific cells that form the basement membrane of the retina. Animal testing of these blastomere-derived cells has resulted in the retinal cells growing well and reproducing light-detecting rod and cone cells which resulted in the improved vision of the lab animals. Elise Ervin Staff Writer