Novel Stem Cells Discovered in Human Retina Show Promise for Restoring Vision

Scientists have identified previously unknown stem cells in the human retina, offering potential for reversing vision loss from diseases like macular degeneration. The stem cells, called human neural retinal stem-like cells (hNRSCs) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) stem-like cells, were found in fetal tissue samples and lab-grown retinal models. Researchers observed that hNRSCs could transform into other types of retinal cells. When transplanted into mice with a condition similar to retinitis pigmentosa, hNRSCs differentiated into light-detecting cells, improving the rodents' vision for up to 24 weeks. The findings, published in *Science Translational Medicine*, suggest hNRSCs could be used to develop new treatments for retinal eye disorders in humans. Further research is needed to confirm these cells' potential in humans.