Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in elderly due to the loss of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells and the light-sensitive photoreceptor cells in the macula – part of the retina that allows central vision and focus. Even though AMD does not lead to complete blindness the impairment makes it difficult to conduct close up tasks like looking at faces, reading, sewing and cooking.

The main functions of RPE in the retinal (i) phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor membranes, (ii) secretion of essential factors for the structural integrity of the retina, (iii) transportation of nutrients, ions, and water, (iv) protection against photooxidation and light absorption, and (v) reisomerization of all-trans-retinal into 11-cis-retinal.

Professor Lim Kah Leong and Dr Chai Chou from National Neuroscience Institute, Professor Phan Toan-Thang from CellResearch Corporation and Dr Su Xinyi and her co-workers from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Research Entities have successfully differentiate Cord Lining-derived induced Pluripotent Stem cells (CLiPS) into RPE. The technology allows the efficient conversion of CLiPS into CLiPS-RPE. In vitro assays shown CLiPS-RPE demonstrated high phagocytosis activity, expressed a higher level of pigments than embryonic stem cells (ES)-derived RPE and tight junctions between RPE-RPE as compared to ES-RPE. The group recently filed a US-provisional patent application for the technology in Jan 2022.

The group plans to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy studies in animal models in the near future with the aim US-FDA IND application to help AMD patients recover their central vision.