Mass Eye and Ear Researchers Win 2025 Gizmodo Science Fair

Researchers led by Ula Jurkunas, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School have been named winners of the 2025 Gizmodo Science Fair for their development of an experimental stem cell therapy for severe limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

The therapy, cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells (CALEC), addresses a critical unmet need in treating severe LSCD. The approach involves harvesting limbal stem cells from the patient's contralateral healthy eye, ex vivo expansion, and transplantation onto a cellular tissue graft to the damaged cornea.

In a Phase I/II trial of 14 patients published in the March issue of Nature Communications, CALEC demonstrated promising efficacy and safety outcomes. At 18 months post-procedure, nearly all patients maintained at least a partial response with improved visual acuity, while two-thirds achieved complete corneal epithelial surface restoration. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.

The research represents the first stem cell therapy of its kind to be used in the eye in the United States. The team is currently in discussions with the FDA regarding regulatory approval and is working with potential commercial partners to advance the therapy through additional development phases, including optimization of cell manufacturing and shelf life to enable broader distribution.