Manchester Royal Eye Hospital administers its first gene therapy treatment

Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH) achieves a historical milestone, as it delivers gene therapy at this hospital for the first time. The hospital is trialling gene therapy, in collaboration with Saint Mary’s and the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, for patients with a rare genetic eye condition, x-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP).

XLRP, for which there is currently no effective treatment, is one of the most common causes of blindness in young people.

The surgeon leading the trial in Manchester is Professor Paulo Stanga at MREH, University of Manchester and Manchester Vision Regeneration (MVR) Lab at NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility. Professor Stanga said:

Gene therapy is an exciting and new area that could potentially offer a cure across a number of disease areas. We’re delighted to be able to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in this trial for this new treatment for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. This is a devastating condition for which there’s currently no effective treatment.

Professor Graeme Black, Consultant in Genetics and Ophthalmology, University of Manchester/Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust adds:

Manchester is a leading centre for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited genetic eye diseases. The co-location of Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Saint Mary’s Hospital, which is home to the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine means we have a cohort of patients who could potentially benefit from this new treatment.

Read the full news article on the CMFT Research & Innovation website.