Hello everyone,
I haven't noticed anything posted about this on the webboards, maybe I just haven't looked hard enough... but this is big news.
Today I received my Winter 2004 edition fo the Vision of Children Foundation Newsletter. (
Website ) Here is a portion of the enclosed letter from the Chairman, Samuel Hardage:
quote:
"It is particularly appropriate in this holiday season, that I am able to share some wonderful news that has the potential to profoundly impact the future for countless visually impaired individuals. In October, the Vision of Children sponsored the fourth "World Symposium on Ocular Albinism." At the symposium, our researchers discussed the potential for gene therapy to help individuals with genetic vision disorders.
Gene thereapy involves introducing specific engineered genes into the cells of patients with hereditary disorders. This technique may show promise for people who have the visually debillitating condition, Ocular Albinism (OA). Gene therapy may be able to greatly improve some visual problems associated with Ocular Albinism. Our researchers now estimate that a treatment for individuals with OA could be available for human trials in as little as two to three years."
The front page of the eight page publication is title "World symposium On Ocular Albinism Reveals Scientific Breakthrough" Here are a few hilights:
quote:
...Scientists are exploring gene therapy as a potential treatment for genetic vision disorders, including Ocular Albinism. Gene therapy has already successfully restored the vision in a dog moodel with Leber congential amaunosis, a dog that was once blind can now fetch a ball. Based on the success of this model, the Italian researchers (working with VOC) hope that this approach wil be successful in mitigating visual problems associated with OA... As VOC Chairman and co-founder, Samuel A Hardage, proclaimed, "It is no longer a question of if we will find a treatment---it is now a question of when."
WOW, that is some very exciting news! If you are not subscribed as a member of the Vision of Children Family Network, visit their website (
Website ) and join. There is a yahoo! e-mail group that passes on research updates, a periodic newsletter you can sign up for, a patient database registry that will help locate those willing to try tests when trials become available, and numerous research updates that can all be accessed via the Vision of Children website (
Website ).
I thought I'd pass on this exciting news to you. I hope it finds you all well.
Best regards,
Blake