Despite promising results in preclinical models, cell therapies for ocular disease continue to face critical translational challenges from low post-injection viability and cell migration to structural disorganization and immune rejection. This workshop will examine how delivery innovations like hydrogel encapsulation, patient-specific sourcing, and immunomodulatory strategies are reshaping the future of retinal cell therapy.

Key Topics to be Explored:

• Why do injected cells fail to stay in place, and how can light-activated hydrogels improve structural outcomes post-delivery?
• How does spatial organization influence the therapeutic function of cells, and what preclinical evidence supports this correlation?
• What are the trade-offs between using autologous cells versus universal or “blank” cells to avoid immunogenicity and streamline manufacturing?
• How can we mitigate immune responses without fully suppressing efficacy, what does “partial acceptance” mean in real-world cell delivery?
• What are the next steps needed to move structurally stable, viable cell therapies into clinical trials for degenerative retinal diseases?