MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Daniel Maloney, Ph.D
Farrar Lab
Smurfit Institute of Genetics
Trinity College Dublin
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe the condition of Dominant optic atrophy?
Response: Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA) is a progressive blinding disorder that affects roughly 1:10,000 to 1:30,000 people. It is primarily caused by mutations in the OPA1 gene, which plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of the mitochondrial network. There is currently no way to prevent or cure DOA. We sought to build upon previous work to test if OPA1 could be delivered as a potential gene therapy intervention. (more…)