![Photomicrograph showing the loss of retinal epithelium cells.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2021-07/360%20images-07.png?itok=Ol2MBn04)
Regenerating Cells
![A sequence of photos showing cells regenerating](/sites/default/files/styles/3_1_600x200/public/2021-07/section%20page%20hero%20image%20template%20copy%205.png?h=b86dc414&itok=rlnSCWgd)
Unlike skin and other parts of the human body, the nerve cells of the eyes do not, for the most part, regrow or regenerate after damage has occurred. However, there is new hope. Work is moving forward to regenerate and reconnect the eye’s retinal cells that have been damaged by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and to restore the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells that provides its nourishment and support.
![A retina-in-a-dish model.](/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_1920x1080/public/2021-07/human%203D%20retina%20from%20the%20lab%20of%20Maria%20Valeria%20Canto-Soler%2C%20PhD-01.png?h=dac57ed4&itok=OjT4kqq2 1920w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_9_320x180/public/2021-07/human%203D%20retina%20from%20the%20lab%20of%20Maria%20Valeria%20Canto-Soler%2C%20PhD-01.png?h=dac57ed4&itok=bwLMnN56 320w)
iPSC Technology
Grantees are recreating parts of the eye using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, which are stem cells created from living adult tissue. Also, cell regeneration in other animal models is being studied with the hope of gleaning information that may be translated to therapy.