再生医療について

Under the titleʻAbout regenerative medicineʼ, I gave a lecture on the basics of regenerative medicine, developments in the field of ophthalmology and regenerative medicine initiatives at the University of Tokushima Hospital to members of the public with an interest in regenerative medicine.
Regenerative medicine refers to medical treatment that uses cells and artificial materials to regenerate damaged functions of biological tissues and organs that have suffered functional impairment or dysfunction. The aim is to restore the function of organs that are no longer able to fulfil their role due to disease by replenishing cells and tissues. This new approach makes it possible to treat diseases and injuries that have been difficult to treat with conventional therapies. Regenerative medicine is a rapidly advancing field of medicine with the potential to improve our health and quality of life.
In the field of ophthalmology, regenerative medicine research in the cornea and retina is advancing. Autologous cultured epithelial cell sheets harvested and cultured from the oral mucosa are being transplanted into corneas that have become opaque due to corneal epithelial dysfunction such as ocular pemphigoid. Clinical trials are also underway to transplant retinal photoreceptor cells and retinal pigment epithelium differentiated from iPS cells.
The University of Tokushima Hospital has a regenerative medicine cell conditioning centre with standards approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which makes it possible to carry out cell conditioning that requires advanced techniques. With the participation of doctors from the departments of gastroenterology and transplant surgery, plastic surgery, respiratory and collagen medicine, haematology, etc., this system enables cell transplantation therapy and clinical trials, the next generation of cutting-edge medicine, to be carried out. Researchers and medical professionals are working together towards the development of regenerative medicine while addressing safety and ethical issues.