Day: May 30, 2017

Nearly 40 million people suffer from blindness around the world with another 124 million people hampered by poor vision. It’s no wonder that researchers from Second Sight focused on creating novel ways in order to restore sight.

Scientists have developed the bionic eye, a small digital camera that became a medical breakthrough. Second Sight, a California-based company, calls this the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System.

Bionic Eye Is FDA Approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel recently approved the Second Sight’s Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System. According to Second Sight, the panel carefully deliberated for ten hours discussing and reviewing the data presented from the international clinical trial.

Robert Greenberg, Second Sight’s Chairman said “I am very pleased with the panel recommendation. The panel deliberations were well informed and thorough and their decision validated over two decades of work by Second Sight and our collaborators.”

After three clinical trials, 20 years of work in the field, over $100m in public investment by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the National Eye Institute, and an additional $100m in private investment, the device Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System has arrived.

People Behind Second Sight’s Success

Second Sight is doing a remarkable job. Following are some of the team that made the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System happen:

• Will McGuire – The President and CEO of Second Sight, became a Board member in August 2015.
• William J. Link – A Director of Second Sight, became a member of the Board of Directors in the year 2013. Because of Link’s history as a Senior Executive, he is qualified and valued as a member of the company.
• Matthew Pfeffer – A Director of Second Sight. He joined the Board of Directors in May 2015 and serves as the company’s Chair of the Audit Committee.
• Gregg Williams – A Director of Second Sight. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since June 2009. Williams’ is known for executive and managerial experience together with his leadership skills.
• Steve Okland – The Commercial Vice President for the U.S. and Canada. He joined Second Sight in March 2016
• Gregoire Cosendai – The Vice President of European Operations. He was the Director from 2008 to 2010.
• David Jacques – The Vice President of Research & Development. Jacques joined Second Sight in February 2017. From the year 2012 through 2016, he founded a management consulting firm where his clients included Second Sight.
• Edward Randolph – The Vice President of Manufacturing for Second Sight.

Curing Optical Diseases

The California-based company develops retinal prosthetics for people who have lost their vision due to outer retinal degenerations, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease that deteriorates a part of the retina that turns light into vision, leading to blindness. It affects 1 in 5,000 people.

All About Vision stated that the Argus II brings back some level of visual perception to many people with critical retinitis pigmentosa. The device is also being tested for people who are suffering from age-related macular degeneration.

The device allows almost all visually impaired people to discern shapes, movement, and light. Some users of Argus II regain enough of their sight that they can read large-print books and cross the street safely on their own.

Reports filed by CBS News mentioned that a man from Minnesota named Allen Zderad was recently able to see his wife for the first time in over a decade thanks to the Argus II.

Patrick Finnerty, Second Sight Medical Products, said “the patient essentially has to try to determine what those flashes of light mean, and in many cases, this can help them determine the location of a window, doorway, street or furniture. It essentially helps them navigate the world around them”.

The innovative approach of Argus II is still a work in progress. Researchers are installing more electrodes in the device. Higher numbers of electrodes mean sharper visuals the users. Future implants will also produce color vision.

The emergence of the bionic eye is a step forward for the blind and for the company Second Sight.

From worms to mice, scientists are looking towards other species in the animal kingdom to discover genes that may hold the key to regenerating human body parts.

The ability to regrow damaged limbs, organs or missing teeth would be the ultimate advancement in genetic engineering, restoring a healthy and productive life to millions (potentially billions) of people across the globe.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) are studying Lake Malawi Cichlids (a colorful African fish) to determine how these fish can regenerate hundreds of teeth throughout their lifespan. The scientists have discovered the genes responsible this unique regenerative ability and are working to identify the chromosomes that cause their tissues to differentiate into teeth or taste buds. After collaborating with researchers at King’s College in London, the scientists realized similar genes were involved in the differentiation between teeth and taste buds in mice.

Genetic Engineering Catalyzes Tooth Regrowth

Regenerating teeth may not sound like the be all and end all of healthcare, but it is an enormous medical breakthrough. This is not simple replacement technology, it relies on unlocking the key to true regeneration of body parts. We begin with teeth, and what is learned may lead to the regrowth of limbs and vital organs.

When we consider that humans and mice share 97.5% of their genetic structure in common, there is good reason to believe that someday researchers may be able to regenerate teeth in humans. As Professor Paul Sharpe, research professor and co-author of the King’s College expresses, “The more we understand the basic biology of natural processes, the more we can utilize this for developing the next generation of clinical therapeutics, in this case how to generate biological replacement teeth.”

But there is more to a tooth than the enamel.  Professor Todd Streelman of the GIT points out researchers will need to understand how the nerves and blood vessels develop in the process of regeneration. Here’s where other exciting studies come into the picture. At Duke University researchers have identified the genes and DNA sequences (called enhancer elements) that enable Zebrafish to regenerate fins and hearts. To test the viability of this research in mammals, collaborating biologists at the University of California were able to activate these genes in the injured paws and hearts of mice.

Cellular Regeneration Could Lead to the Fountain of Youth

Then there is the lowly acorn worm of which we share 70% of our genome. When cut in half, the acorn worm has the amazing ability to regenerate into two identical, new worms. Imagine cutting a human in half and both halves resulting in two identical human beings! Researchers at the University of Washington recognize we have the genes for regeneration—after all, we can regenerate skin, hair, and nails, but something is preventing it from happening in our other body parts.

These biologists are studying the acorn worm to determine which types of cells are being used to trigger regeneration. With these discoveries, scientists may be able to regenerate human limbs, organs, and even aspects of the central nervous system.  Their conclusions will complete the picture of regenerating viable human teeth.

Genomic mapping has demonstrated the significant commonality of animal species at the genetic level. This discovery has resulted in the identification of the genes and genetic switches responsible for cellular regeneration. Ultimately, these findings may lead to the ability to regrow every part of the human body. Through continuous research of this nature, we may find we have indeed discovered the fountain of youth.