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SUMMARY:Therapies for hereditary retinal diseases - Professor Simon Peters
 en-Jones\, Michigan State University
DTSTART:20210303T160000Z
DTEND:20210303T170000Z
UID:TALK154582@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a diverse group of 
 conditions that result in blindness in humans\, dogs and cats.  The sponta
 neous gene mutations that have arisen in the pet dog and cat population oc
 cur in the same genes as the analogous conditions in humans. Genetic studi
 es that identify the causal mutations of IRDs in dogs and cats allow the d
 evelopment of DNA-based tests to eliminate the conditions from the pet pop
 ulation. They also offer the opportunity for development of translational 
 therapeutic approaches. The dog and cat eye have many similarities to the 
 human eye including in size and the presence of a central retinal region f
 or high acuity vision. These similarities make them of particular value fo
 r testing of promising sight saving or restoring therapy. Gene augmentatio
 n therapies tested in dogs with IRDs have already led to human clinical tr
 ials for a variety of IRDs. Thus far this work has led to an approved comm
 ercially available therapy for an IRD that causes early-onset vision loss\
 ; Leber congenital amaurosis type 2. Approval of therapies for other IRDs 
 developed in cats and dogs are likely in the future.
LOCATION:Venue to be confirmed
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