Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Ophthalmology

The Eye as a Target Organ for Stem Cell Therapy.- Stem Cells in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery.- The Current Status of Corneal Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation in Humans.- Lens Differentiation from Embryonic Stem (ES) and Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells.- Stem Cells and Glaucoma.- Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Retinal Disease.- Stem Cells, Mechanism Based Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Approaches.- New Developments in Retinal Cell Transplantation and the Impact of Stem Cells.- Cancer Stem Cells in Uveal Melanoma.- Current Ex-vivo Gene Therapy Technology and Future Developments.- Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics in Ophthalmology: Application Towards the Design of Clinical Trials.

Stephen Tsang, MD, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Ophthalmology, Pathology and Cell Biology. Since 1992, he has been working on gene-targeting in stem cells and created the first gene-targeted model for a recessive form of retinitis pigmentosa with gene-targeting in embryonic stem cell technology; this model is used in current research by numerous laboratories. He received his M.D.-Ph.D. degrees from the NIH-National Institute of General Medical Sciences Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Columbia University. Dr. Tsang then completed his residency at Jules Stein Eye Institute/UCLA. Dr. Tsang's contributions to retinal degeneration research are known internationally and he is a member of the Fight-For-Sight grant-in-aid review panel for the last eight years. In his New York State supported stem cell program (N09G-302), we are examining embryonic stem (ES) cells to model and replace diseased human retinal cells. His skills are being recognized by the 2005 Bernard Becker-"Association of University Professor in Ophthalmology"-"Research to Prevent Blindness" Award. Dr. Tsang also participates in resident teaching and is the Columbia ophthalmology basic science course director. He is a member of the Macular Society. Named one of America's Top Ophthalmologists in 2009, he has published over 60 research articles and lectured internationally on personalized medicine and stem cells in regenerative medicine.