Revolutionary Genome-Editing Technology Successfully Controls Common Eye Disease: CRISPR/Cas9 Targets Key Factor in Corneal Neovascularization

Experts from Fudan University’s Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital have successfully applied genome-editing technology to effectively control a common eye disease that affects up to 10 percent of the global population and can lead to blindness in many patients. The condition, known as corneal neovascularization, introduces vascular pathology into the typically avascular cornea. It can be caused by various factors including inflammation related to infection, autoimmune conditions, and traumatic injuries.

Traditional treatments of corneal neovascularization often involve anti-inflammatory medication and steroids, however, these methods have limited effectiveness and some patients do not respond well to treatment or may even see their condition worsen. To address this issue, experts have utilized advanced gene-editing technology to develop a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system specifically targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) to inhibit its expression and control the disease.

The technology has shown promising results in animal experiments and the research has been published in a leading journal called Advanced Science. Gene editing is a field of technologies that enable scientists to alter an organism’s DNA by adding, removing, or changing genetic material at specific locations in the genome using tools like CRISPR-Cas9. Dr. Zhou Xingtao, a prominent researcher in the study, commented that this approach provides a new strategy in the treatment of corneal neovascularization by targeting a key factor in the development of the condition.