$250K Grant To Continue Promising Treatment For Blindness

DETROIT (WWJ) - A local research firm is getting an influx of cash to a study a promising new treatment for the most common cause of blindness in seniors.

CEO Sean Ainsworth of Retro Sense Therapeutics says they're studying how a gene in algae can help some who suffer from dry Macular Degeneration.

"There are about a million with the advanced form of the disease, there are some estimates of up to about eight million with the disease in total. We would expect we would be applicable to the most advanced stages," said Ainsworth.

He says it won't restore vision to 20-20, but it does offer hope.

"I'm reluctant to try to suggest what level of vision we can restore but I guess we know that an individual who is blind, even the ability to see any light and perhaps make his way around the room, that's of tremendous value," said Ainsworth.

The use for the gene was discovered by a researcher at Wayne State University.  Retro Sense is getting a $250,000 grant from The Foundation Fighting Blindness to continue the research.

Ainsworth says the gene has worked in mice, monkeys and rats, but has not yet been tested on humans.