21/05/2025
For over 300 million people worldwide suffering from retinal disease, permanent vision loss has been a heartbreaking and irreversible reality—until now.
Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), led by Professor Jin Woo Kim, have discovered a way to regenerate damaged retinal nerves and restore vision. The secret? Blocking a protein called PROX1, which normally prevents retinal cells from repairing themselves.
By inhibiting this protein in lab mice, researchers stimulated nerve regeneration, restoring sight that was lost—and the effects lasted for more than six months. It’s a medical milestone in treating previously untreatable diseases like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Until recently, experts believed mammals couldn't regenerate retinal cells—unlike fish or amphibians. But this research rewrites that narrative, opening the door to human clinical trials by 2028.
Millions living in darkness may soon have a reason to hope again.
