Japan OKs world's 1st test using iPS cells to treat corneal disease

Japan's health ministry conditionally approved Tuesday the world's first clinical test to treat patients with a corneal disease by using artificially derived stem cells.The test, to be conducted by a team of researchers from Osaka University, will be the sixth time the government has authorized clinical studies using so-called induced pluripotent stem cells.The team will transplant 0.05-millimeter thick sheet-like corneal tissues produced from iPS cells into four adult patients, who suffer from a disease that brings corneal haze and decreased vision.The first transplant operation will be co…READ FULL ARTICLE