Cell Replacement in the Mammalian Retina - Marius Ader
Retinal degeneration due to loss of photoreceptors represents one of the prime causes for disability in industrialized countries and there are no effective treatments available up to date. Our experimental work focuses on the development of cell-based strategies to replace lost cells in the retina including photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
Previous and current research
Vision impairment and blindness caused by the degeneration of the light sensitive photoreceptors and/or the supporting retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), as in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinitis pigmentosa, represents one of the prime causes for disability in industrialized countries, with no effective treatments currently established. Our experimental work focuses on the development of cell-based strategies to replace lost cells in the retina by the transplantation of photoreceptors and RPE cells. more
Future projects and goals
- generation of photoreceptor enriched retinal organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells
- transplantation of photoreceptors and RPE cells into models of retinal degeneration: analysis of morphology, expression patterns, synaptic connections, and functionality
- manipulation of the host tissue to enhance donor cell connectivity and integration
- exploring the cytoplasmic transfer between donor and host photoreceptors
Group leader
Selected publications
Santos-Ferreira T*, Llonch S*, Borsch O*, Postel K, Haas J, Ader M (2016) Retinal transplantation of photoreceptors results in donor-host cytoplasmic exchange. Nat Commun, 7:13028.
Santos-Ferreira T*, Völkner M*, Borsch O, Haas J, Cimalla P, Vasudevan P, Carmeliet P, Corbeil D, Michalakis S, Koch E, Karl MO, Ader M (2016) Stem Cell-Derived Photoreceptor Transplants Differentially Integrate Into Mouse Models of Cone-Rod Dystrophy. IOVS. 57(7):3509-20.
Santos-Ferreira T, Postel K, Stutzki H, Kurth T, Zeck G, Ader M (2015) Daylight vision repair by cell transplantation. Stem Cells. 33(1):79-90.
Carido M, Zhu Y, Postel K, Benkner B, Cimalla P, Karl MO, Kurth T, Paquet-Durand F, Koch E, Münch T, Tanaka EM, Ader M (2014) Characterization of a mouse model with complete RPE loss and its use for RPE cell transplantation. IOVS. 55(8):5431-5444.
Ader M, Tanaka EM (2014) Modeling human development in 3D culture. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 31C:23-28.
Group members
Contact
Group Leader
Prof. Dr. Marius Ader
marius.ader[at]crt-dresden.de
Assistant to Group Leader
Klaudia Szostak
klaudia.szostak[at]crt-dresden.de
Phone: +49 (0) 351 458 82305
Funding
