Inventors Sayan Basu and Vivek Singh use stem cells from the eye’s surface to produce a patented new therapy to treat vision loss due to corneal scarring or corneal distention

The LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad has been granted an Australian patent for a novel cell therapy that can be used to repair damaged corneas from a variety of corneal diseases. This unique ‘cell composition’ based therapy marks a significant milestone in the field of ophthalmology and cell-based therapies.

The patent is granted for the advanced cell compositions comprising limbal epithelial and stromal cells for treating and preventing corneal diseases, along with their production methods and therapeutic applications. 

The patent was granted to two inventors from LVPEI, Drs Sayan Basu and Vivek Singh. Dr Basu is a corneal surgeon and a clinician-scientist at LVPEI. He is the Prof. D Balasubramanian Chair of Eye Research at the Brien Holden Eye Research Centre (BHERC); and the Director of the Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE) at LVPEI. Dr Vivek Singh is a scientist at the Sudhakar and Sreekanth Ravi Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and Centre for Ocular Regeneration (CORE), LVPEI. 

“In the long term, this breakthrough will significantly benefit individuals with visual impairments by providing an affordable and effective treatment option,” said Dr Singh.

Dr Basu mentioned, “If the clinical trials are successful, this cell-based therapy could revolutionize the treatment of various corneal pathologies.”