Genome-Editing Technology Sheds Light on Treatment for Common Eye Disease: Fudan University Study

Researchers from Fudan University’s Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital have successfully used genome-editing technology to control a common eye disease that affects up to 10 percent of the global population and can lead to blindness in patients. The team utilized advanced gene editing technology to develop a CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting VEGFA, which plays a significant role in inflammatory corneal neovascularization.

By inhibiting the expression of VEGFA, they were able to effectively control the disease as evidenced by successful animal experiments. The research findings were published in the prestigious journal Advanced Science. Gene editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA by adding, removing or altering genetic material at specific locations in the genome. Dr. Zhou Xingtao, a key researcher in the study believes this breakthrough in gene editing offers a new strategy for treating corneal neovascularization and provides a foundation for future treatments in this field.