Rachael Pearson is a Royal Society University Research Fellow whose research focuses on developing stem cell therapy for retinal repair and regeneration. She has established proof-of-concept for restoring vision through rod photoreceptor transplantation. Her current areas of interest include defining strategies to restore cone-mediated vision, understanding photoreceptor precursor migration in development and transplantation, and determining how to break down barriers in the degenerating retina to improve transplantation outcomes. Her lab utilizes techniques such as microscopy, stem cell culture, molecular biology, and behavioral testing to advance photoreceptor replacement therapies for treating blindness.
Part 2 Of 2 Comment/Reply on ACT/Ocata Lancet Report (Oct. 2014)
Reply by, *Steven D Schwartz, Eddy Anglade, Robert Lanza, on behalf of the Ocata
Macular Disease Investigator Group
schwartz@jsei.ucla.edu
Jules Stein Eye Institute Retina Division, and David
Geffen School of Medicine, University of California,
Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (SDS); and Ocata
Therapeutics Inc, Marlborough, MA, USA (EA, RL)
Source Material: http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(15)61203-X.pdf
Don't miss the opportunity to join the #Webinar of #StemCell2021.
#stemcellconference inviting all the researchers from the field of #tissueengineering #tumor #regenerativemedicine #genetherapy #MolecularBiology
Book your slot before #Earlybirdregistrations
Early Bird Registration end date: 7th #November 2021
To join register here: https://lnkd.in/e8Qk-j3f
Email us for your any queries: contact@conferencemind.com
Phone/WhatsApp +14707660424, +917735912022
Part 2 Of 2 Comment/Reply on ACT/Ocata Lancet Report (Oct. 2014)
Reply by, *Steven D Schwartz, Eddy Anglade, Robert Lanza, on behalf of the Ocata
Macular Disease Investigator Group
schwartz@jsei.ucla.edu
Jules Stein Eye Institute Retina Division, and David
Geffen School of Medicine, University of California,
Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA (SDS); and Ocata
Therapeutics Inc, Marlborough, MA, USA (EA, RL)
Source Material: http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(15)61203-X.pdf
Don't miss the opportunity to join the #Webinar of #StemCell2021.
#stemcellconference inviting all the researchers from the field of #tissueengineering #tumor #regenerativemedicine #genetherapy #MolecularBiology
Book your slot before #Earlybirdregistrations
Early Bird Registration end date: 7th #November 2021
To join register here: https://lnkd.in/e8Qk-j3f
Email us for your any queries: contact@conferencemind.com
Phone/WhatsApp +14707660424, +917735912022
Purpose: We report a rare case of a 2 - year-old child with ectopia lentis and potential Marfan syndrome (MFS) and discuss her management.
Methods: A 2 - year - old female with no signifi cant past medical history was brought in by her mother after complaints that the child has recently been holding everything close to her eyes while simultaneously shifting her head down. Her mother reported no history of pain or trauma. The child’s family history was negative for ectopia lentis or MFS.
Microdialysis is an integral part of preclinical research to determine extracellular fluid and blood concentrations of metabolites, hormones, drugs, etc, and is often used in quantifying the biochemistry of brain and peripheral tissues. However, it is a molecular-only technique and other imaging modalities are needed to provide the researcher with functional and anatomical information of the animal in vivo.
Making Optical and Electrophysiological Measurements in the Brain of Head-Fix...InsideScientific
A growing number of researchers are moving from reduced preparations such as dissociated cultured neurons or brain slices, to experimentation in live animals - in vivo - using advanced methods such as two-photon microscopy or combined optogenetics and patch-clamp recordings. In order to immobilize the animal during these challenging applications general anesthesia is often administered; however, the use of anesthetics greatly distorts brain function.
Is there a better way?
In this exclusive webinar sponsored by Neurotar Ltd, leading experts in the technology will discuss methodology, best-practices and show attendees how to immobilize the rodent’s head without restraining its body using the Mobile HomeCage™. The result is a controlled research environment for studying brain function in awake, freely-moving subjects with no stress to the animal. Discussion around how this technique can be applied to the study of neuronal plasticity, neurodegeneration, addiction, brain trauma and other pathophysiological conditions in longitudinal experiments will be included. Furthermore, presenters will demonstrate how this methodology is best combined with microscopy and electrophysiology techniques – all in vivo.
A Systematic Comparison of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and F...John Redaelli
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A history of optogenetics the development of tools for controlling brain circ...merzak emerzak
Understanding how different kinds of neuron in the brain work together to implement sensations,
feelings, thoughts, and movements, and how deficits in specific kinds of neuron result in brain
diseases, has long been a priority in basic and clinical neuroscience
Optical propagation of blue LED light in brain tissue and Parylene-C used in ...Manjunath Pujar
Understanding the propagation of LED light in the brain tissue can facilitate the advanced development of LED based neuroprosthetic devices for optogenetic applications. The attenuation coefficient of blue LED light in thin tissue slices and Parylene-C films were quantified, which is 19.9 cm-1 and 1.70 cm-1, respectively. Optical simulations in TracePro show good agreement with the experiments.
As a revolutionary neuromodulation technology, optogenetics offers remote manipulation on neural activities of genetically-targeted neural cells with millisecond temporal precision through light illumination. Compared to electrical stimulation, optogenetics has unique benefits including specificity control of neural cell types as well as minimal artifacts and instrumental interferences with electrophysiological recording. Application of optogenetics in neuroscience studies has created an increasing need for the development of light sources and the instruments for light delivery. Among various light sources, micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs) are favored for its high power efficiency, low cost, and capability of complex system integration. Successful in-vivo optogenetic stimulation on neural cells with the employment of μ-LEDs has been widely reported.
August 2012
You will hear about a patented LLNL optical diagnostic microscope design that can provide real-time imaging for tissue pathology and many other market applications.
Purpose: We report a rare case of a 2 - year-old child with ectopia lentis and potential Marfan syndrome (MFS) and discuss her management.
Methods: A 2 - year - old female with no signifi cant past medical history was brought in by her mother after complaints that the child has recently been holding everything close to her eyes while simultaneously shifting her head down. Her mother reported no history of pain or trauma. The child’s family history was negative for ectopia lentis or MFS.
Microdialysis is an integral part of preclinical research to determine extracellular fluid and blood concentrations of metabolites, hormones, drugs, etc, and is often used in quantifying the biochemistry of brain and peripheral tissues. However, it is a molecular-only technique and other imaging modalities are needed to provide the researcher with functional and anatomical information of the animal in vivo.
Making Optical and Electrophysiological Measurements in the Brain of Head-Fix...InsideScientific
A growing number of researchers are moving from reduced preparations such as dissociated cultured neurons or brain slices, to experimentation in live animals - in vivo - using advanced methods such as two-photon microscopy or combined optogenetics and patch-clamp recordings. In order to immobilize the animal during these challenging applications general anesthesia is often administered; however, the use of anesthetics greatly distorts brain function.
Is there a better way?
In this exclusive webinar sponsored by Neurotar Ltd, leading experts in the technology will discuss methodology, best-practices and show attendees how to immobilize the rodent’s head without restraining its body using the Mobile HomeCage™. The result is a controlled research environment for studying brain function in awake, freely-moving subjects with no stress to the animal. Discussion around how this technique can be applied to the study of neuronal plasticity, neurodegeneration, addiction, brain trauma and other pathophysiological conditions in longitudinal experiments will be included. Furthermore, presenters will demonstrate how this methodology is best combined with microscopy and electrophysiology techniques – all in vivo.
A Systematic Comparison of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and F...John Redaelli
Ophthalmology - Sept. 2011 - A Systematic Comparison of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Fundus Autofluorescence in Patients with Geographic Atrophy
A history of optogenetics the development of tools for controlling brain circ...merzak emerzak
Understanding how different kinds of neuron in the brain work together to implement sensations,
feelings, thoughts, and movements, and how deficits in specific kinds of neuron result in brain
diseases, has long been a priority in basic and clinical neuroscience
Optical propagation of blue LED light in brain tissue and Parylene-C used in ...Manjunath Pujar
Understanding the propagation of LED light in the brain tissue can facilitate the advanced development of LED based neuroprosthetic devices for optogenetic applications. The attenuation coefficient of blue LED light in thin tissue slices and Parylene-C films were quantified, which is 19.9 cm-1 and 1.70 cm-1, respectively. Optical simulations in TracePro show good agreement with the experiments.
As a revolutionary neuromodulation technology, optogenetics offers remote manipulation on neural activities of genetically-targeted neural cells with millisecond temporal precision through light illumination. Compared to electrical stimulation, optogenetics has unique benefits including specificity control of neural cell types as well as minimal artifacts and instrumental interferences with electrophysiological recording. Application of optogenetics in neuroscience studies has created an increasing need for the development of light sources and the instruments for light delivery. Among various light sources, micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs) are favored for its high power efficiency, low cost, and capability of complex system integration. Successful in-vivo optogenetic stimulation on neural cells with the employment of μ-LEDs has been widely reported.
August 2012
You will hear about a patented LLNL optical diagnostic microscope design that can provide real-time imaging for tissue pathology and many other market applications.
Dedifferentiation is a term used to suggest that differentiated epithelial cells revert to a previous developmental stage before their subsequent differentiation into an alternative cell fate. Hereby we discuss about the phenomenon and their impact in medical applications.
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Over the past two years I've done a lot of interesting research which I've decided to aggregate. My research pertains to the following: Biology, Genetics, Nanotechnology, Neuroscience, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, All Things 3-D, Super Computing, Quantum Physics, Energy, Design, & Sustainability.
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Including Comment By, Anthony Atala
Q2 2015 ARM - Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
Quarterly Data Report: Q2 2015 provides an in-depth look at regenerative medicine and advanced therapies sector trends and metrics compiled from more than 580 leading therapeutic companies worldwide.
March 23, 2015 Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel - Silver Spring, Maryland USA
Bioassays 2015: Scientific Approaches & Regulatory Strategies
Bioassay Development for Human Stem Cell-derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Progress and Challenges
Irina Klimanskaya, Ocata Therapeutics, Inc., Marlborough, MA USA
1. Summary of current research interests
Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of blindness in the
Western world. Photoreceptor replacement therapy provides an outstanding
opportunity to develop novel therapeutic approaches, which may enable
us to replace the photoreceptors lost during degeneration and restore
visual function. We have recently established proof-of-concept for stem cell
therapy in the eye, demonstrating that photoreceptor transplantation is
capable of restoring vision. The focus of my research is the development of
these findings for the provision of cell-based mechanisms for retinal repair
and regeneration.
www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo
Rachael Pearson
MA, PhD
Royal Society University Research Fellow
Institute of Ophthalmology
11-43 Bath Street
London EC1V 9EL
Tel: 020 7608 4022
Fax: 020 7608 6991
Email: rachael.pearson@ucl.ac.uk
URL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo/
genetics/gene-and-cell-therapy
Key achievements
• Proof-of-concept of restoration of vision by rod photoreceptor
transplantation (Pearson et al., Nature, 2012)
• Proof-of-concept for rod (MacLaren & Pearson et al., Nature, 2006) and
cone (Lakowski et al., HMG, 2010) transplantation
• Development of strategies for repairing the degenerate retina by
photoreceptor transplantation (Barber et al., PNAS, 2013; Pearson et al.,
Cell Transplantation, 2010; West et al., Exp Eye Res, 2008)
• Characterisation of the regenerative properties of progenitor/stem cells
from the eye margin (Gauldoni et al., Stem Cells, 2010; MacNeil et al., Stem
Cells, 2007; Pearson et al., Mol. Cell. Neurosci, 2008)
• Determination of mechanisms of proliferation and migration in retinal
development (Pearson et al., Neuron, 2005; J. Neurosci 2005, 2002,
Pearson et al., Eur. J Neurosci., 2004
Recent academic awards/prizes: Royal Society University Research
Fellowship; European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Young
Investigator Award 2012; Fight For Sight Young Investigator Award 2008
Research Projects
Retinal degenerations culminating in photoreceptor (PR) loss are the
leading causes of untreatable blindness in the Western world. Current
clinical treatments are of limited efficacy, at best slowing disease
progression. As such, there is a clear need for new therapeutic approaches.
Gene therapy is effective in the treatment of inherited retinal disease.
However, such strategies rely on the survival of the affected cells. Once
degeneration has occurred, PR transplantation offers a complementary
approach that could not only halt the progression of blindness but also
potentially reverse it. We have demonstrated that, by using donor cells
from early postnatal retina, PR cell transplantation is possible. The adult
retina is capable of integrating transplanted cells & these cells develop
unambiguous characteristics of mature PRs. Moreover, we demonstrated
that the cells that possess this capacity to migrate & functionally integrate
are post-mitotic PR precursors, rather than stem or progenitor cells
(MacLaren & Pearson et al., Nature, 2006). Most importantly, we now
have definitive evidence of restoration of rod-mediated visually guided
behaviour in rod-deficient mice following transplantation (Pearson et
al., Nature, 2012). Of critical importance was the finding that the amount
of vision restored is critically dependent upon the number of cells that
correctly integrated. Together, these establish a major proof-of-concept;
that PR transplantation has the potential to improve not only retinal
function but actually restore vision and provide strong justification for the
continued research into photoreceptor transplantation strategies for the
treatment of blindness. They also increase the need to find appropriate
donor cells from non-fetal sources. Recent advances in stem cell technology
have demonstrated the potential to generate photoreceptor precursor
donor cells. In a remarkable recent study, Eiraku et al., (2011) have
demonstrated that it is possible to essentially grow a retina in a culture dish.
We have now developed our own protocols to generate transplantation-
competent rod precursors from ES cells.
Current areas of interest
1) Defining new strategies to restore cone-mediated vision. We have
demonstrated that it is possible to restore vision mediated by rods but
humans rely heavily upon cones for vision in daylight and colour-vision. For
this reason, we aim to define new strategies for the restoration of cone-
mediated vision by transplantation.
2) Determine the mechanisms of migration utilized by both rod and cone
precursors in normal development and following transplantation. By
understanding how the small proportion of cells transplanted manage
2. to migrate into the recipient retina, we should be able to find ways to
manipulate this migration and drive more cells into the recipient retina.
3) Determine strategies for breaking down barriers within the recipient
retina. We have recently examined transplantation efficiency in a variety
of models of retinal degeneration and found that disease type has a major
impact on outcome (Barber et al., PNAS, 2013). We are working to factors
within the degenerating retina that impede (or enhance) transplanted cell
integration and find ways to manipulate them to improve transplantation
outcome (West et al., 2012; Pearson et al., 2010; West et al., 2008)
4) Determine whether purinergic signalling as an evolutionarily restricted
signalling mechanism in the control of retinal stem cell proliferation.
Unlike lower vertebrates, the mammalian retina lacks the ability to
generate. Understanding the mechanisms behind these differences
is crucial to knowing whether it might be possible to stimulate the
mammalian retina to repair itself. We believe that the presence or absence
of purinergic signaling may be important in determining this capability
(see Pearson et al., Neuron, 2005).
Techniques used in the lab
Multi-photon, confocal and fluorescence microscopy, stem cell culture,
calcium imaging, proliferation assays, viral vector production, molecular
biology, transplantation, RNAi, multielectrode array recordings,
electroretinogram recordings, intrinsic imaging of visual cortex,
behavioural tests of vision.
www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo
Dr. Rachael Pearson
Funding:
The Royal Society
MRC
The Wellcome Trust
BBSRC
RP FIghting Blindness
Collaborators:
Professor Robin Ali
Dr Jane Sowden
Pofessor David Becker
Alumni:
Dr Amanda Barber, Post-Doctoral Research
Associate, University of East Anglia
Legend for Images:
A. When transplanted into the subretinal space
of adult eyes, rod photoreceptor precursor cells
(green) migrate into and integrate within the
photoreceptor layer of the recipient eye.
B. Transplanted cells develop normally and have
all the morphological characteristics of mature
photoreceptors.
C. Rod precursor cells can also integrate into
diseased eyes and replace the proteins missing
in the degenerating retina. In this case, a
transplanted cell (green) has integrated within
the photoreceptor layer of an animal model of
retinal disease. The integrated cell expresses
rhodopsin (red), a photopigment essential for
light detection, which is normally absent in the
diseased eye.
D. The eye itself is a source of stem cells, which
may be a potential source of donor cells for
transplantation. Picture shows a neurospheres,
formed by proliferating stem cells in vitro. The
sphere is stained for the neural progenitor marker
nestin (green). Cell nuclei are stained in red.
E. Illustration used for cover of Nature.
Images: