22 With an interdisciplinary focus that includes research in nanotechnology and the use of extensive equipment in BINA, Prof. Yossi Mandel is working to find solutions to vision problems that affect more than 200 million individuals worldwide. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina. The macula is responsible for central vision, which is essential for activities like reading, recognizing faces, and driving. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults. The prevalence of AMD increases with age, and it is expected to become an even more significant public health issue as the global population continues to age. As head of the School of Optometry and Vision Science, which is part of the Faculty of Life Sciences, and a member of BINA and the Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Center, Mandel and his team of scientists and students use all the resources at their disposal to further their research on developing technologies for vision restoration. “Our main project is fabricating retinal prosthesis, a specific type that we called hybrid retinal prosthesis because it’s composed of both electrodes and living cells,” Mandel, who is an ophthalmologist (MD) and holds a PhD in Bioengineering, explains. “We manipulate specific cells that we differentiate from human embryonic stem cells into cells that can mediate the signal between electrodes and neurons.” The Visionary Who Cares about Your Vision: Prof. Yossi Mandel Uses the Nano Lab to Create Hybrid Retinal Implants
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