Written based on 21 research studies on PubMed, searched on 11 Nov 2026.
The claim
Posts online say that stem cell treatment helps with retinitis pigmentosa.
Where research stands
We found 55 published papers on stem cell treatment and retinitis pigmentosa. They were published between 2004 and 2026. 1 of them is a study in people. None of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 8 were studies in animals, and 10 were only in cells in the lab. 27 papers are reviews that sum up other studies. 12 new studies in people are running or will start soon, say the trial registers. 1 research project on stem cell treatment for retinitis pigmentosa is funded and still running.
- 1In people
- 8In animals
- 10Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Stem cell treatment has been studied in people with retinitis pigmentosa, but not in randomised trials.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- Transplant of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium Strips for Macular Degeneration and Retinitis Pigmentosa.2025 · Ophthalmol Sci · Study in people
- Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell therapies in retinitis pigmentosa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.2025 · Int Ophthalmol · Review
- Retinitis pigmentosa and stem cell therapy.2024 · Int J Ophthalmol · Review
- Cell therapy for retinal disease.2024 · Curr Opin Ophthalmol · Review
- Retinitis Pigmentosa: From Pathomolecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies.2024 · Medicina (Kaunas) · Review
- Application of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids in inherited retinal diseases.2023 · Stem Cell Res Ther · Review
- Stem cell therapy for inherited retinal diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.2023 · Stem Cell Res Ther · Review
- Dynamic transcriptomic remodeling in grafted human neural progenitor cells uncovers mechanisms for vision preservation in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa.2026 · Nat Commun · In animals
- Protection of GAP-43 gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on retinitis pigmentosa.2026 · J Transl Med · In animals
- Stem cell therapy for inherited retinal diseases: Trends and insights from 2000 to 2024.2025 · Cell Transplant · In animals
- Exosomes derived from IFNγ-stimulated mesenchymal stem cells protect photoreceptors in RCS rats by restoring immune homeostasis through tsRNAs.2024 · Cell Commun Signal · In animals
- Safety and stable survival of stem-cell-derived retinal organoid for 2 years in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.2023 · Cell Stem Cell · In animals
- Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles protect retina in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa by anti-inflammation through miR-146a-Nr4a3 axis.2022 · Stem Cell Res Ther · In animals
- Establishment of non-integrate induced pluripotent stem cell line CSUASOi013-A, from peripheral blood-derived cells of a PRPF31-related dominant retinitis pigmentosa patient.2026 · Stem Cell Res · In the lab
- Generation of a human-induced pluripotent stem cell line from a retinitis pigmentosa patient carrying biallelic mutations in EYS gene.2026 · Hum Cell · In the lab
- Establishment of MURAi007-A, a human induced pluripotent stem cell line from a patient with inherited retinal dystrophy carrying compound heterozygous mutations in the PNPLA6 gene.2026 · Stem Cell Res · In the lab
- Establishment of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (BTHBIOi005-A) from a retinitis pigmentosa patient with a MERTK gene mutation.2026 · Stem Cell Res · In the lab
- Establishment of CSUASOi014-A, an induced pluripotent stem cell line from blood-derived cells of a Chinese patient carrying PRPF31 gene mutation.2026 · Stem Cell Res · Other paper
- Corrigendum to "Generation of three human induced pluripotent stem cell lines from retinitis pigmentosa 25 patient and two carriers but asymptomatic daughters". [Stem. Cell Res. 82 (2025) 103645].2026 · Stem Cell Res · Other paper
- Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Retinitis Pigmentosa.2025 · Curr Stem Cell Res Ther · Other paper
- Sub-Retinal Delivery of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Photoreceptor Progenitors in rd10 Mice.2023 · J Vis Exp · Other paper
