tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36978421.post8006376034782567236..comments2011-10-27T21:03:42.496-05:00Comments on Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research News: Vertex Success in CF Drug Development Leads Way fo...Edmund Injae Leenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36978421.post-58687856905019380092011-10-27T21:03:42.496-05:002011-10-27T21:03:42.496-05:00Researchers in Oxford have treated a man with an a...Researchers in Oxford have treated a man with an advanced gene therapy technique to prevent him from losing his sight.<br /><br />The Oxford research follows on from a gene therapy trial which began four years ago at Moorfields Hospital in London. The principle aim of these trials was to demonstrate that the technique was safe.<br /><br />The treatment, which adopted a slightly different approach, was tested first in adult patients whose sight was almost gone, and then in children. <br /><br />According to Prof Robin Ali, who led that research, the trials have shown not only that gene therapy is safe - but that there has been significant improvement in some patients.<br /><br />"It is very exciting to see the start of another ocular gene therapy trial and the field moving so rapidly in recent years," he said. <br /><br />"In the last 12 months, several new gene therapy trials for the treatment of various retinal disorders have been initiated and further trials are likely to start very soon. We are all looking forward to seeing the results."<br /><br />"This is a set of diseases where molecular medicine has reached a point where we can now intervene in a very precise way to correct the defect that caused the blindness in the first place. There is the possibility that you could actually correct the gene defect."<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15446912tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09886995566115512797noreply@blogger.com