At the University of Arizona:

Dr. McKay, a retinal cell biology specialist, has a new method for growing retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the laboratory that has overcome many of the problems that have plagued other researchers, and what needs to be accomplished so that the cells will be transplantable.

With funding from the National Institutes of Health and the UA, Dr. McKay is testing the suitability of his discovery for use in cell-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and other blinding diseases of the retina. He also is collaborating with the UA Department of Neurology to develop a technique for implanting retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells into the brain for treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Last year I read something about Mirapex and Requip causing changes in retinal pigmentation and was told this was nothing to be concerned about.
Specifically, I asked if it could lead to macular degeneration.

I don't know that this treatment is in any way related to my concern, but if anyone has unearthed info about this side effect, I'd like to read it.

Sheryl

Sheryl,

I'll see if I can contact this scientist and get an answer. I met him at a Fox RoundTable. And the AZ-APDA folks all know him.

Jean
is this Dr. Ron McKay? If so, he's one heck of a scientist! And like Sheryl, I wonder if this is to produce dopamine for the treatment of PD?

You know, of course,in a totally different study, this is the same cells (RPE's) that I had transplanted from a donor eye. I didn't have rejection or have to take immunosuppresant drugs because of the encapsulated "gellatin beads" used to deliver the RPE's to the substania nigra/caudate.

thanks for posting this.
Peg

After re-reading, this must be Dr. Roy McKay - my same neurosurgeon! Strange that he's the lead scientist in this study.

Peg

Peg -- BRIAN McKay, PhD at the University of Arizona.

Yes, they would use the patient's own retinal cells, implant them in the brain, and have them produce dopamine. I had wondered about the possibility of rejection in the Spheramine trial -- glad they have a method of precluding that.

Anyway it's exciting to see that this level is research is going on in Tucson. When they start phase I trials, i'll be at the head of the line (unless there is a ceregene phase III trial first ... ).

best,

Isn't it quite coincidental that such similar scientific concepts in a study had such similarity in names??? (Maybe they are all related?) lol
Peg

I have Macular Degeneration and wonder if this study is for only Parkinson Disease. If it covers AMD, where can I find more information.
Thanks, Dianne

Dianne,

This study is pre-clinical still - that is, not involving humans yet. I searched on "Brian McKay" and retinal. Here is an article from the U of Arizona.

The article mentions a "Southwest Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) Research Program" at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology in Tucson.

http://www.medicine.arizona.edu/news/story.cfm?ID=600

Good luck -- Jean

and allegedly a stem cell based option is all but here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6721685.stm

Don't understand all the research threads running but with our interest in stem cells + Spheramine the more brains on this the better I think as long as they talk together (presume MJFF can help out here).

Neil.