Retina Implant AG, the leading developer of subretinal implants for patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), today announced the publication of data from the Company's global clinical trial involving seven sites across five countries. The study, published in the May 2015 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Vision Research, presents the visual results of 29 late-stage RP and cone-rod dystrophy patients implanted with the Alpha IMS subretinal implant.
The study titled, "Subretinal Visual Implant Alpha IMS-Clinical Trial Interim Report," was led by Dr. Katarina Stingl, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Schleichstr in coordination with Professor Eberhart Zrenner, M.D., founding director of the Institute of Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen, Germany. Highlights from the study's findings include:
More than 86 percent of patients implanted with the 3x3 mm2 device with 1,500 electrodes experienced improved ability to detect light, including the identification of specific light sources.
Nearly half of the 29 previously blind study patients reported restoration of useful visual experiences in daily life, including the recognition of shapes and household objects, improved ability to identify facial features and some of them even the ability to read letters.
These results led researchers to conclude that the Alpha IMS subretinal implant was successful in restoring partial vision in the majority of blind patients.
"The publication of this data is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of some of the world's leading retinal specialists collaborating to provide life-changing technology to those in need," said Dr. Katarina Stingl, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Germany. "The impact of RP is profound for patients, and with no treatment options available until recently, diagnosing patients with the disease has been extremely difficult. For years, the ophthalmology community has strived to develop a treatment or technology that offers a solution to help RP patients regain some useful vision. It is incredibly gratifying to have reached this point."
"Retina Implant's mission is to provide all late-stage RP patients with a safe, effective device to restore some of the vision they have lost," said Walter-G Wrobel, CEO of Retina Implant AG. "Through the establishment of new clinical partners across Europe, securing reimbursement in those countries as well as launching a clinical trial in the U.S., we are executing on our mission to increase access to our technology worldwide."
Results from module one of the trial were gathered at a single center study in Tuebingen, Germany and were the subject of a study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences in January 2013. The data from the remaining 20 study participants was collected during a multi-center international trial which took place across Europe and several sites in Asia. Multicenter trial sites include the Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, National University Health System, Singapore; Oxford Eye Hospital and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Klinikum Stuttgart - Katharinenhospital Eye Clinic, Stuttgart, Germany; King's College Hospital and King's College London, Denmark Hill, London; Klinikum Stuttgart – Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; STZ Eyetrial, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; Klinikum Dresden Friedrichstadt, University Teaching Hospital, Eye Clinic, Dresden, Germany; Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tuebingen, Germany.
About Retina Implant AG
Retina Implant AG is the leading developer of subretinal implants for partially sighted and blind patients. After extensive research with German university hospitals and institutes which began with a large grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education in 1996, Retina Implant AG was founded by Dr. Eberhart Zrenner, professor of Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Germany and his colleagues in 2003 with private investors with the goal of developing a fully-functioning electronic retinal implant to restore useful vision to the blind. Retina Implant began implanting human patients in 2005 and started a second, larger clinical trial in 2010. In July 2013, Retina Implant's wireless subretinal implant technology, Alpha IMS, received CE mark. To learn more about Retina Implant, follow us on Twitter @RetinaImplant.
About Vision Research
Vision Research is devoted to the functional aspects of human, vertebrate and invertebrate vision and publishes experimental and observational studies, reviews, and theoretical papers firmly based upon the current facts of visual science. Vision Research has always welcomed the broadest interpretation of visual science.
Vision Research believes that access to quality research is vital to the scientific community and beyond. The journal supports sustainable access and works hard to provide a range of open access options alongside access initiatives to ensure everyone can read, use and trust the latest research.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Experts ponder drug compounding law’s impact on ophthalmology
In 2013, in the wake of infectious outbreaks traced to steroids and repackaged intravitreal Avastin produced at compounding pharmacies, Congress passed the Drug Quality and Security Act, which included the Compounding Quality Act. The law gives the FDA new authorities to regulate the activities of compounding pharmacies, drug repackagers and a new class of “outsourcing manufacturers.”
In subsequent guidance documents, the FDA clarified various requirements regarding the activities of traditional compounders, such as the need to receive a patient-specific prescription for each compounded drug. In a set of draft guidance documents issued in February, the FDA made recommendations on outsourcing facilities, mixing and repackaging, and interstate shipping. Some experts see some of the recommendations as a plus, while others have a less optimistic view.
Overall, the drug compounding law involves a “mixed bag” of upsides and downsides, according to Daniel A. Kracov, JD, OSN Regulatory/Legislative Board Member.
“At a high level, what I think ophthalmologists are going to see is somewhat less availability of certain products that they may have received from compounding facilities previously,” Kracov said. “The purpose of the act, in many respects, is to try to diminish the unlawful practice of compounding of large quantities of, particularly, injectable products in compounding pharmacies and to try to drive those activities into outsourcing facilities, which are subject to good manufacturing practices.”
Judy E. Kim, MD, OSN Retina/Vitreous Board Member, said that while she understands the need for improved oversight of compounding pharmacies for the safety of patients, these laws do not address the unique needs of ophthalmologists, particularly retina specialists, who use Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) to treat various ocular conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vein occlusions, retinopathy of prematurity and neovascular glaucoma.
“[Some of] these blanket policies are going to negatively impact the physicians and the patients,” Kim said. “In particular, the proposed beyond-use date of 5 days for repackaged biologics, which includes Avastin, is too restrictive and makes it practically impossible to use Avastin for most ophthalmologists. It mandates that we have only 5 days to use the drug from the time it was repackaged at an outsourcing facility, but it does not account for the time to order and ship the drug to our practices and does not account for the days needed for sterility testing of these drugs. Also, this 5-day period seems quite arbitrary, since the literature shows that Avastin remains stable and sterile beyond 5 days. Limiting the access to Avastin means we will be left to use more expensive drugs only, which will not only increase the health care costs, but also result in some patients declining needed treatments because they cannot afford more expensive drugs. FDA should hear different groups’ voices and make logical decisions and consider exceptions as we give them the appropriate biological and safety data. When access to these drugs impacts so many patients, this is a big issue.”
Pharmaceutical consultant Barbara S. Fant, PharmD, voiced support for oversight of compounding pharmacies in light of recent growth and change within the industry.
“I think the extent of compounding pharmacies has definitely increased over the past few years,” Fant said. “There needs to be some sort of oversight, more than there was in the past, because I think the laws and regulations that were passed back then [did not foresee] the extent to which compounding pharmacy facilities would expand into their current role. The regulatory changes need to strike a healthy balance between making compounded drugs available and assuring the safety and quality of the compounded products that are provided.”
In subsequent guidance documents, the FDA clarified various requirements regarding the activities of traditional compounders, such as the need to receive a patient-specific prescription for each compounded drug. In a set of draft guidance documents issued in February, the FDA made recommendations on outsourcing facilities, mixing and repackaging, and interstate shipping. Some experts see some of the recommendations as a plus, while others have a less optimistic view.
Overall, the drug compounding law involves a “mixed bag” of upsides and downsides, according to Daniel A. Kracov, JD, OSN Regulatory/Legislative Board Member.
“At a high level, what I think ophthalmologists are going to see is somewhat less availability of certain products that they may have received from compounding facilities previously,” Kracov said. “The purpose of the act, in many respects, is to try to diminish the unlawful practice of compounding of large quantities of, particularly, injectable products in compounding pharmacies and to try to drive those activities into outsourcing facilities, which are subject to good manufacturing practices.”
Judy E. Kim, MD, OSN Retina/Vitreous Board Member, said that while she understands the need for improved oversight of compounding pharmacies for the safety of patients, these laws do not address the unique needs of ophthalmologists, particularly retina specialists, who use Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) to treat various ocular conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, vein occlusions, retinopathy of prematurity and neovascular glaucoma.
“[Some of] these blanket policies are going to negatively impact the physicians and the patients,” Kim said. “In particular, the proposed beyond-use date of 5 days for repackaged biologics, which includes Avastin, is too restrictive and makes it practically impossible to use Avastin for most ophthalmologists. It mandates that we have only 5 days to use the drug from the time it was repackaged at an outsourcing facility, but it does not account for the time to order and ship the drug to our practices and does not account for the days needed for sterility testing of these drugs. Also, this 5-day period seems quite arbitrary, since the literature shows that Avastin remains stable and sterile beyond 5 days. Limiting the access to Avastin means we will be left to use more expensive drugs only, which will not only increase the health care costs, but also result in some patients declining needed treatments because they cannot afford more expensive drugs. FDA should hear different groups’ voices and make logical decisions and consider exceptions as we give them the appropriate biological and safety data. When access to these drugs impacts so many patients, this is a big issue.”
Pharmaceutical consultant Barbara S. Fant, PharmD, voiced support for oversight of compounding pharmacies in light of recent growth and change within the industry.
“I think the extent of compounding pharmacies has definitely increased over the past few years,” Fant said. “There needs to be some sort of oversight, more than there was in the past, because I think the laws and regulations that were passed back then [did not foresee] the extent to which compounding pharmacy facilities would expand into their current role. The regulatory changes need to strike a healthy balance between making compounded drugs available and assuring the safety and quality of the compounded products that are provided.”
Monday, May 18, 2015
American Academy of Ophthalmology Committed to Supporting Eye Care in Nepal After Earthquake
In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has established the Nepal Eye Care Relief Fund. This fund will support rebuilding efforts to deliver much-needed eye care to the people of Nepal.
Prior to the earthquake, which has taken thousands of lives and affected millions more, there was a critical need for eye care in Nepal. Approximately 93,400 people in this mountainous Himalayan country are blind and more than 280,000 have low vision, largely due to preventable or treatable causes. With more than 30 million people but fewer than 200 ophthalmologists, many struggle to get the eye care they need. In the aftermath of the earthquake, patients may find it even more difficult to get treatment that could help save their vision.
To assist with recovery efforts, the Academy will continue working with its long-standing partners at the Nepal Ophthalmic Society and Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, an in-country non-governmental organization for eye care, to provide support. The Academy has worked with both groups for many years to provide vital clinical education resources to Nepalese ophthalmologists to improve patient care. In addition, the Academy has created a task force that is currently identifying additional respected non-governmental organizations that are working effectively during this crisis in Nepal, especially those involved in re-establishing eye care services.
"As a result of the disaster, many ophthalmologists in Nepal are now unable to provide quality eye care to those who need it most," said David W. Parke II, M.D., CEO of the Academy. "By working closely with our colleagues in Nepal, we will support the re-establishment of critical eye care services and education through this challenging time. We know that helping our Nepalese colleagues rebuild their eye care practices will have a ripple effect across the rest of this devastated population."
In 2010, Academy members responded with an abundance of generosity in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. All of the funds collected through the Nepal Eye Care Relief Fund will be used to rebuild capacity to deliver eye care in Nepal. Those interested in donating can learn more at https://secure.aao.org/apps/Default.aspx?tabid=484. Donations are tax deductible.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, headquartered in San Francisco, is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons, serving more than 32,000 members worldwide. The Academy's mission is to advance the lifelong learning and professional interests of ophthalmologists to ensure that the public can obtain the best possible eye care. For more information, visit www.aao.org.
The Academy is also a leading provider of eye care information to the public. The Academy's EyeSmart® program educates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve healthy vision. EyeSmart provides the most trusted and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions and injuries. OjosSanos™ is the Spanish-language version of the program. Visit www.geteyesmart.org or www.ojossanos.org to learn more.
Prior to the earthquake, which has taken thousands of lives and affected millions more, there was a critical need for eye care in Nepal. Approximately 93,400 people in this mountainous Himalayan country are blind and more than 280,000 have low vision, largely due to preventable or treatable causes. With more than 30 million people but fewer than 200 ophthalmologists, many struggle to get the eye care they need. In the aftermath of the earthquake, patients may find it even more difficult to get treatment that could help save their vision.
To assist with recovery efforts, the Academy will continue working with its long-standing partners at the Nepal Ophthalmic Society and Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, an in-country non-governmental organization for eye care, to provide support. The Academy has worked with both groups for many years to provide vital clinical education resources to Nepalese ophthalmologists to improve patient care. In addition, the Academy has created a task force that is currently identifying additional respected non-governmental organizations that are working effectively during this crisis in Nepal, especially those involved in re-establishing eye care services.
"As a result of the disaster, many ophthalmologists in Nepal are now unable to provide quality eye care to those who need it most," said David W. Parke II, M.D., CEO of the Academy. "By working closely with our colleagues in Nepal, we will support the re-establishment of critical eye care services and education through this challenging time. We know that helping our Nepalese colleagues rebuild their eye care practices will have a ripple effect across the rest of this devastated population."
In 2010, Academy members responded with an abundance of generosity in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. All of the funds collected through the Nepal Eye Care Relief Fund will be used to rebuild capacity to deliver eye care in Nepal. Those interested in donating can learn more at https://secure.aao.org/apps/Default.aspx?tabid=484. Donations are tax deductible.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology, headquartered in San Francisco, is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons, serving more than 32,000 members worldwide. The Academy's mission is to advance the lifelong learning and professional interests of ophthalmologists to ensure that the public can obtain the best possible eye care. For more information, visit www.aao.org.
The Academy is also a leading provider of eye care information to the public. The Academy's EyeSmart® program educates the public about the importance of eye health and empowers them to preserve healthy vision. EyeSmart provides the most trusted and medically accurate information about eye diseases, conditions and injuries. OjosSanos™ is the Spanish-language version of the program. Visit www.geteyesmart.org or www.ojossanos.org to learn more.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery device market is estimated to reach to $138.3 million by 2019 according to new research report
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide, and the leading cause of bilateral, irreversible blindness. It is characterized by the relatively high intraocular pressure (IOP) as a result of impaired drainage of a fluid, known as aqueous humor, from the eye.
Key players in the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery device market include Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Alcon, Inc. (Switzerland), Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany), Nidek Co., Ltd. (U.S.), Lumenis Ltd. (Israel), Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. (Australia), and IRIDEX Corporation (U.S.).
Browse through the TOC of the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery device market report to get an idea of the in-depth analysis provided. It also provides a glimpse of the segmentations in the market, and is supported by various tables and figures.
Currently, the approved treatments for glaucoma include a pharmaceutical drug, glaucoma laser therapies, and surgical procedures. It is estimated that by 2020, 11 million individuals will be blind due to glaucoma and around 10% of the people suffering from eye disorders will experience loss of vision in spite of proper treatment.
The North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market is driven by the growing incidences of ocular disorders, increased aging population, and rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes. However, lack of awareness among people regarding eye disorders and poor primary healthcare infrastructure are the major factors restraining the growth of ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market in this region.
The key players in the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market are Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Alcon, Inc. (Switzerland), Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany), Nidek Co., Ltd.
(U.S.), Lumenis Ltd. (Israel), Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. (Australia), and IRIDEX Corporation (U.S.).
This market is segmented and forecast on the basis of types and end-users. The types comprise of glaucoma drainage devices (gdd), glaucoma implants and stents, glaucoma lasers, and glaucoma systems while the end-users include private eye clinics, hospitals, and other end-users.
The North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market is further segmented and forecast on the basis of major countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This report also includes the market share, value chain analyses, and market metrics, such as drivers, restraints, and upcoming opportunities in the market.
In addition, it presents a competitive landscape and company profiles of key market players.
Key players in the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery device market include Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Alcon, Inc. (Switzerland), Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany), Nidek Co., Ltd. (U.S.), Lumenis Ltd. (Israel), Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. (Australia), and IRIDEX Corporation (U.S.).
Browse through the TOC of the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery device market report to get an idea of the in-depth analysis provided. It also provides a glimpse of the segmentations in the market, and is supported by various tables and figures.
Currently, the approved treatments for glaucoma include a pharmaceutical drug, glaucoma laser therapies, and surgical procedures. It is estimated that by 2020, 11 million individuals will be blind due to glaucoma and around 10% of the people suffering from eye disorders will experience loss of vision in spite of proper treatment.
The North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market is driven by the growing incidences of ocular disorders, increased aging population, and rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes. However, lack of awareness among people regarding eye disorders and poor primary healthcare infrastructure are the major factors restraining the growth of ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market in this region.
The key players in the North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market are Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Alcon, Inc. (Switzerland), Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Germany), Nidek Co., Ltd.
(U.S.), Lumenis Ltd. (Israel), Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd. (Australia), and IRIDEX Corporation (U.S.).
This market is segmented and forecast on the basis of types and end-users. The types comprise of glaucoma drainage devices (gdd), glaucoma implants and stents, glaucoma lasers, and glaucoma systems while the end-users include private eye clinics, hospitals, and other end-users.
The North American ophthalmology glaucoma surgery devices market is further segmented and forecast on the basis of major countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This report also includes the market share, value chain analyses, and market metrics, such as drivers, restraints, and upcoming opportunities in the market.
In addition, it presents a competitive landscape and company profiles of key market players.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Johns Hopkins Ophthalmology professor Bob Massof receives Helen Keller prize
Bob Massof, Ph.D., of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins received the 2015 Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research on May 5. The award, named for the American woman who impressed the world with her courage and determination to overcome blindness and deafness, was jointly presented by the Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education and the BrightFocus Foundation, which supports research and education on diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Massof, a professor of ophthalmology and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the director of the Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute, is known for multiple contributions to low-vision rehabilitation research, notably on outcomes assessment in low vision. He helped develop the first head-mounted system to aid the visually impaired and created the Activity Inventory, a rating scale to determine visual functioning that has been used in clinical studies throughout the world.
Massof said:
Being named a Helen Keller Laureate is a humbling experience, and being able to share the award with Gordon Legge [of the University of Minnesota] is a high honor, the two of us have devoted most of our careers to the study of low vision, i.e., chronic disabling visual impairments, and I am particularly gratified that by recognizing our work, this award also recognizes the field of low vision research
“Our work in low vision at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute has been supported by generous contributions from the Lions Clubs of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. This award is particularly fitting, because 90 years ago it was Helen Keller who challenged the Lions to serve as knights of the blind.”
Helen Keller’s great-grandniece, Keller Johnson-Thompson, awarded the prize at a Denver ceremony. The event coincided with the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Massof, a professor of ophthalmology and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the director of the Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute, is known for multiple contributions to low-vision rehabilitation research, notably on outcomes assessment in low vision. He helped develop the first head-mounted system to aid the visually impaired and created the Activity Inventory, a rating scale to determine visual functioning that has been used in clinical studies throughout the world.
Massof said:
Being named a Helen Keller Laureate is a humbling experience, and being able to share the award with Gordon Legge [of the University of Minnesota] is a high honor, the two of us have devoted most of our careers to the study of low vision, i.e., chronic disabling visual impairments, and I am particularly gratified that by recognizing our work, this award also recognizes the field of low vision research
“Our work in low vision at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute has been supported by generous contributions from the Lions Clubs of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. This award is particularly fitting, because 90 years ago it was Helen Keller who challenged the Lions to serve as knights of the blind.”
Helen Keller’s great-grandniece, Keller Johnson-Thompson, awarded the prize at a Denver ceremony. The event coincided with the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Thursday, May 14, 2015
American Academy of Ophthalmology Issues Statement Regarding Study Linking Ebola and Uveitis
The American Academy of Ophthalmology today issued a statement following a report in the New England Journal of Medicine about an Ebola patient with uveitis, a type of eye inflammation common in Ebola survivors. The academy is reiterating that the findings do not indicate an increased risk of Ebola infection to the general public through casual contact.
According to the study, "Persistence of Ebola Virus in Ocular Fluid during Convalescence," an Ebola patient was discharged after being found clear of the virus by urine and blood tests. Three months later, he returned and was diagnosed with uveitis, which can lead to blindness. Researchers also found evidence of the Ebola virus when testing fluid from inside the globe of the eye ― but not when testing the tears or the conjunctiva, the surface of the eye and eyelids.
"The medical community has appreciated that the Ebola virus can remain viable in some body fluids for an extended period of time after the initial onset of the disease," says Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD, president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a uveitis specialist. "This remarkable case now demonstrates that the virus can remain viable in ocular fluids long after the patient has recovered from the systemic infection. If the Ebola epidemic continues, ophthalmologists throughout the world will be seeing patients with post-Ebola uveitis, will need to recognize and treat this condition and will need to take appropriate increased precautions in performing surgical procedures on these patients. However, I want to emphasize that as far as we know, the Ebola virus is not transmitted by casual contact. The current study does not suggest that infection can be transmitted through contact with tears or the ocular surface of patients who have recovered from their initial infection."
As noted in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recommended that all health professionals take special precautions when treating patients who are or have been infected with Ebola. These measures include wearing appropriate protective garments, proper disinfection of equipment and employing appropriate waste management to minimize the spread of infection.
The newest findings that indicate uveitis may be associated with active virus within the eye highlight the vital importance of such safety measures for ophthalmic health care professionals when performing invasive procedures such as intraocular injections or surgery for cataracts or glaucoma on patients who have been infected with the Ebola virus.
Studies of prior outbreaks have shown that Ebola infections often manifest in the eyes and can impact vision and cause blindness long after a systemic infection has cleared. One of the early signs of Ebola is conjunctival injection, as observed in a study of the 1995 Ebola outbreak in the Congo.(1) Another study on survivors of the same outbreak found 4 out of 20 Ebola survivors later developed severe uveitis marked by eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision and excessive tearing.
According to the study, "Persistence of Ebola Virus in Ocular Fluid during Convalescence," an Ebola patient was discharged after being found clear of the virus by urine and blood tests. Three months later, he returned and was diagnosed with uveitis, which can lead to blindness. Researchers also found evidence of the Ebola virus when testing fluid from inside the globe of the eye ― but not when testing the tears or the conjunctiva, the surface of the eye and eyelids.
"The medical community has appreciated that the Ebola virus can remain viable in some body fluids for an extended period of time after the initial onset of the disease," says Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD, president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a uveitis specialist. "This remarkable case now demonstrates that the virus can remain viable in ocular fluids long after the patient has recovered from the systemic infection. If the Ebola epidemic continues, ophthalmologists throughout the world will be seeing patients with post-Ebola uveitis, will need to recognize and treat this condition and will need to take appropriate increased precautions in performing surgical procedures on these patients. However, I want to emphasize that as far as we know, the Ebola virus is not transmitted by casual contact. The current study does not suggest that infection can be transmitted through contact with tears or the ocular surface of patients who have recovered from their initial infection."
As noted in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recommended that all health professionals take special precautions when treating patients who are or have been infected with Ebola. These measures include wearing appropriate protective garments, proper disinfection of equipment and employing appropriate waste management to minimize the spread of infection.
The newest findings that indicate uveitis may be associated with active virus within the eye highlight the vital importance of such safety measures for ophthalmic health care professionals when performing invasive procedures such as intraocular injections or surgery for cataracts or glaucoma on patients who have been infected with the Ebola virus.
Studies of prior outbreaks have shown that Ebola infections often manifest in the eyes and can impact vision and cause blindness long after a systemic infection has cleared. One of the early signs of Ebola is conjunctival injection, as observed in a study of the 1995 Ebola outbreak in the Congo.(1) Another study on survivors of the same outbreak found 4 out of 20 Ebola survivors later developed severe uveitis marked by eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision and excessive tearing.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
22 Equine Ophthalmology Studies Available Free Online
A publication containing 22 recent equine ophthalmology papers from the Equine Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Education, and Veterinary Ophthalmology are now available for free viewing at Wiley Online Library.
Clinical Equine Ophthalmology: The Current State of the Art contains information relevant to all sectors of the veterinary profession from general practitioners and specialists to researchers, surgeons and students, covering common diseases, surgical procedures, and outcomes.
The publication was devised and compiled by a panel of guest editors including:
Mary Lassaline, DVM, PhD, MA, Dipl. ACVO, a member of the Veterinary Ophthalmology editorial board and a veterinary ophthalmologist in the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences;
David A. Wilkie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVO, editor of Veterinary Ophthalmology and a professor of comparative ophthalmology at The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences;
Tim Mair, BVSc, PhD, DEIM, DESTS, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, editor of Equine Veterinary Education and a veterinarian based at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent, England; and
Celia M Marr, BVMS, MVM, PhD, DEIM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, editor of Equine Veterinary Journal and an internal medicine specialist based at Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Newmarket, England.
“The goal was to provide broad access to the most current information applicable to every stratum of the equine veterinary profession,” said Lassaline. “Subsequently, a salient feature is that many of the papers included are collaborations between veterinary ophthalmologists with a special interest in horses, equine practitioners with a special interest in ophthalmology, private practitioners and those in academia, and academicians from different institutions.”
Subjects covered include new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis in the horse; novel approaches to corneal surgery; corneal neoplasia; long-term outcomes following surgical intervention for equine recurrent uveitis, glaucoma, and cataracts; and retinal and orbital disease.
“The key purpose of the Equine Veterinary Journal is to disseminate information to help the enhancement of specialist knowledge at every level of the veterinary profession,” Marr said. “By collating the most important and up-to-date ophthalmology research into one easy resource the new special issue does exactly that.”
Clinical Equine Ophthalmology: The Current State of the Art contains information relevant to all sectors of the veterinary profession from general practitioners and specialists to researchers, surgeons and students, covering common diseases, surgical procedures, and outcomes.
The publication was devised and compiled by a panel of guest editors including:
Mary Lassaline, DVM, PhD, MA, Dipl. ACVO, a member of the Veterinary Ophthalmology editorial board and a veterinary ophthalmologist in the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences;
David A. Wilkie, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVO, editor of Veterinary Ophthalmology and a professor of comparative ophthalmology at The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences;
Tim Mair, BVSc, PhD, DEIM, DESTS, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, editor of Equine Veterinary Education and a veterinarian based at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Kent, England; and
Celia M Marr, BVMS, MVM, PhD, DEIM, Dipl. ECEIM, MRCVS, editor of Equine Veterinary Journal and an internal medicine specialist based at Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in Newmarket, England.
“The goal was to provide broad access to the most current information applicable to every stratum of the equine veterinary profession,” said Lassaline. “Subsequently, a salient feature is that many of the papers included are collaborations between veterinary ophthalmologists with a special interest in horses, equine practitioners with a special interest in ophthalmology, private practitioners and those in academia, and academicians from different institutions.”
Subjects covered include new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis in the horse; novel approaches to corneal surgery; corneal neoplasia; long-term outcomes following surgical intervention for equine recurrent uveitis, glaucoma, and cataracts; and retinal and orbital disease.
“The key purpose of the Equine Veterinary Journal is to disseminate information to help the enhancement of specialist knowledge at every level of the veterinary profession,” Marr said. “By collating the most important and up-to-date ophthalmology research into one easy resource the new special issue does exactly that.”
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
An Aye for the Eyes: Web Access to Equine Ophthalmology Research
Why does it seem that horses are so vulnerable to injuries and disorders affecting their eyes? And why does it seem so challenging to save a horse's eye once infection sets in?
As horse owners, we've struggled with medicating our horses' eyes and quickly learned the value of veterinary surgeons with experience in eye disorders. But just as advances in eye surgery and treatment grow more sophisticated, it seems like the incidence of eye disorders (or the ability to recognize and diagnose them) may be on the rise.
Equine eye problems are especially devastating in the developing world.
When it comes to horses' eye disorders, we need all the help we can get. Just ask anyone who's been there. So the news from Wiley Online Library this week is welcome across the veterinary industry, and should benefit horses by providing free and immediate access to current research from anywhere in the world.
Wiley has announced a special virtual issue of 22 ophthalmology papers from three of its journals: Equine Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Education and Veterinary Ophthalmology.
Clinical equine ophthalmology: The current state of the art brings together papers on some of the most significant advances in equine clinical ophthalmology into a single issue to make them more readily available to a wider audience. The issue contains information of direct relevance to all sectors of the veterinary profession from general practitioners and specialists to researchers, surgeons and students, covering common diseases, surgical procedures and outcomes.
The new publication was devised and compiled by a prestigious panel of guest editors comprising Mary Lassaline, DVM, PhD, MA, DACVO, member of the Veterinary Ophthalmology editorial board and veterinary ophthalmologist in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; David A. Wilkie, DVM, Editor of Veterinary Ophthalmology and professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University; Tim Mair, editor of Equine Veterinary Education and based at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Kent (GB); and Celia M. Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal, based at Rossdales, Newmarket (GB).
“The goal was to provide broad access to the most current information applicable to every stratum of the equine veterinary profession,” said Dr. Lassaline. “Subsequently, a salient feature is that many of the papers included are collaborations between veterinary ophthalmologists with a special interest in horses, equine practitioners with a special interest in ophthalmology, private practitioners, and those in academia, and academicians from different institutions.”
Subjects covered include seven papers on new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis in the horse. There are three articles on novel approaches to corneal surgery and a further three on corneal neoplasia. Six papers provide valuable data regarding long-term outcomes following surgical intervention for equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), glaucoma, and cataracts. Finally, three articles present new information regarding retinal and orbital disease.
Professor Celia Marr, editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal said: “The key purpose of the EVJ is to disseminate information to help the enhancement of specialist knowledge at every level of the veterinary profession. By collating the most important and up-to-date ophthalmology research into one easy resource the new special issue does exactly that.”
As horse owners, we've struggled with medicating our horses' eyes and quickly learned the value of veterinary surgeons with experience in eye disorders. But just as advances in eye surgery and treatment grow more sophisticated, it seems like the incidence of eye disorders (or the ability to recognize and diagnose them) may be on the rise.
Equine eye problems are especially devastating in the developing world.
When it comes to horses' eye disorders, we need all the help we can get. Just ask anyone who's been there. So the news from Wiley Online Library this week is welcome across the veterinary industry, and should benefit horses by providing free and immediate access to current research from anywhere in the world.
Wiley has announced a special virtual issue of 22 ophthalmology papers from three of its journals: Equine Veterinary Journal, Equine Veterinary Education and Veterinary Ophthalmology.
Clinical equine ophthalmology: The current state of the art brings together papers on some of the most significant advances in equine clinical ophthalmology into a single issue to make them more readily available to a wider audience. The issue contains information of direct relevance to all sectors of the veterinary profession from general practitioners and specialists to researchers, surgeons and students, covering common diseases, surgical procedures and outcomes.
The new publication was devised and compiled by a prestigious panel of guest editors comprising Mary Lassaline, DVM, PhD, MA, DACVO, member of the Veterinary Ophthalmology editorial board and veterinary ophthalmologist in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; David A. Wilkie, DVM, Editor of Veterinary Ophthalmology and professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University; Tim Mair, editor of Equine Veterinary Education and based at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Kent (GB); and Celia M. Marr, Editor of Equine Veterinary Journal, based at Rossdales, Newmarket (GB).
“The goal was to provide broad access to the most current information applicable to every stratum of the equine veterinary profession,” said Dr. Lassaline. “Subsequently, a salient feature is that many of the papers included are collaborations between veterinary ophthalmologists with a special interest in horses, equine practitioners with a special interest in ophthalmology, private practitioners, and those in academia, and academicians from different institutions.”
Subjects covered include seven papers on new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis in the horse. There are three articles on novel approaches to corneal surgery and a further three on corneal neoplasia. Six papers provide valuable data regarding long-term outcomes following surgical intervention for equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), glaucoma, and cataracts. Finally, three articles present new information regarding retinal and orbital disease.
Professor Celia Marr, editor of the Equine Veterinary Journal said: “The key purpose of the EVJ is to disseminate information to help the enhancement of specialist knowledge at every level of the veterinary profession. By collating the most important and up-to-date ophthalmology research into one easy resource the new special issue does exactly that.”
Monday, May 11, 2015
MacDill ophthalmology technician wins Air Force level award
In February, the office of the Air Force Surgeon General released the Air Force Medical Service 2014 annual award winners, and one of MacDill's own was on the list: Senior Airman Aaron Prevost, 6th Medical Operations Squadron ophthalmology technician.
Prevost, a Fort Worth, Texas native, won the Air Force Ophthalmic Airman of the Year.
"My reaction when I found out that I had won was a sense of gratefulness," explained Prevost. "I appreciated that good people took their time and talents to help make sure that I was recognized."
Over the rating period, Prevost won senior airman below-the-zone, was involved in 503 invasive procedures, was awarded his Community College of the Air Force degree, and oversaw $998,000 in equipment accounts.
From screening patients to performing surgical assistance, Prevost enjoys helping at work, and appreciates that his leadership took the time to recognize him for his work ethic.
"Many people have been and continue to be supportive and for that I would like to let them know it is appreciated," expressed Prevost.
Several members of the 6th Medical Group leadership helped write Prevost's package.
"It feels very rewarding to have my Airman recognized. He is one of the most humble, giving and genuine people you could come in contact with and to have him be acknowledged for his hard work is amazing," said Staff Sgt. Shaquonique Jones, 6th Medical Group NCO in charge Exceptional Family Member Program. "I've never come across anyone like him. He makes the team and I proud on a daily basis!"
Col Michelin Joplin, 6th MDOS commander, concurs with Jones
"Prevost demonstrates the epitome of Airmanship," stated Joplin. "He's always willing to lend a hand and has a strong work ethic. He does everything with a smile."
Prevost, a Fort Worth, Texas native, won the Air Force Ophthalmic Airman of the Year.
"My reaction when I found out that I had won was a sense of gratefulness," explained Prevost. "I appreciated that good people took their time and talents to help make sure that I was recognized."
Over the rating period, Prevost won senior airman below-the-zone, was involved in 503 invasive procedures, was awarded his Community College of the Air Force degree, and oversaw $998,000 in equipment accounts.
From screening patients to performing surgical assistance, Prevost enjoys helping at work, and appreciates that his leadership took the time to recognize him for his work ethic.
"Many people have been and continue to be supportive and for that I would like to let them know it is appreciated," expressed Prevost.
Several members of the 6th Medical Group leadership helped write Prevost's package.
"It feels very rewarding to have my Airman recognized. He is one of the most humble, giving and genuine people you could come in contact with and to have him be acknowledged for his hard work is amazing," said Staff Sgt. Shaquonique Jones, 6th Medical Group NCO in charge Exceptional Family Member Program. "I've never come across anyone like him. He makes the team and I proud on a daily basis!"
Col Michelin Joplin, 6th MDOS commander, concurs with Jones
"Prevost demonstrates the epitome of Airmanship," stated Joplin. "He's always willing to lend a hand and has a strong work ethic. He does everything with a smile."
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology Researchers Earn Highest Honors from ARVO and Recognized for Champalimaud Vision Award
Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology Researchers Earn Highest Honors from ARVO and Recognized for Champalimaud Vision Award
Two prominent faculty members of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology and Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute will receive prestigious 2015 achievement awards today at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting being held this week, May 3 through 7 in Denver, Colorado. In addition, on Tuesday, May 5, the winners of the 2014 António Champalimaud Vision Award―including six HMS researchers―will be recognized at a special Champalimaud Foundation lecture and event held during the ARVO conference. ARVO is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Its members include more than 12,750 researchers from over 80 countries.
Patricia D’Amore, Ph.D., MBA, FARVO, is the recipient of the 2015 Proctor Medal. Dr. D’Amore is Director of Research at Schepens Eye Research Institute, as well as the Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology at HMS. Joan W. Miller, M.D., FARVO is the recipient of the ARVO Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology. Dr. Miller is the Henry Willard Williams Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at HMS, and Chief of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital. Both award recipients will deliver award lectures at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
The Proctor Medal honors Dr. D’Amore’s outstanding research contributions in the basic or clinical sciences as applied to ophthalmology. Established in 1949, the Proctor Medal is named for Dr. Francis I. Proctor, an ophthalmologist who conducted extensive research on the etiology and treatment of trachoma. This was the first ophthalmology-related award to recognize basic scientists in the field. Dr. D’Amore will present an award lecture entitled “Regulation of Retinal Vascular Growth: Development, Pathology and Therapeutics.”
“ARVO is honored to have Dr. D’Amore as the recipient of the 2015 Proctor Medal,” said William Mieler, M.D., FARVO, President of ARVO. “Her outstanding research on vascular growth and development throughout her career will continue the tradition of superb and highly deserving Proctor Medal recipients. We all look forward to her Proctor Medal Lecture at the ARVO 2015 annual meeting.”
The 2015 Mildred Weisenfeld Award recognizes Dr. Joan Miller’s distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology. The award was established as a tribute to Ms. Weisenfeld's outstanding contributions to the field, which include the founding of Fight for Sight in 1946, a not-for-profit foundation that provides promising scientists funding for eye research. Dr. Miller is the first woman to ever receive this honor, and will present the Weisenfeld Award Lecture entitled “Beyond VEGF.”
“Dr. Miller's leading-edge research on ocular angiogenesis has changed the lives of vision-impaired persons across the globe,” said Justine Smith, Ph.D., FRANZCO, FARVO, Immediate Past President of ARVO. “She is most deserving of this very important ARVO Achievement Award.”
Drs. D’Amore and Miller have been at the forefront of angiogenesis and vision research for over three decades. Their foremost contributions include the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the elusive “Factor X” that causes pathological blood vessel growth in blinding neovascular eye diseases. These investigations formed the scientific foundations of anti-VEGF therapies, which were first approved for clinical use in 2004 and currently used to treat various cancers and ocular vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
António Champalimaud Vision Award and Lecture
Established by The Champalimaud Foundation in 2006, the António Champalimaud Vision Award is the highest distinction in ophthalmology and visual science, and honors outstanding contributions to the preservation and understanding of sight. In even-numbered years, the award is given for vision research, and in alternate years it recognizes efforts to alleviate visual problems in developing countries or through humanitarian endeavors. The 2014 Champalimaud Vision Award was given “for the development of anti-angiogenic therapy for retinal disease” and presented last fall at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal. Among the 2014 Champalimaud Laureates are six HMS researchers: Joan W. Miller, M.D., Evangelos S. Gragoudas, M.D., and Patricia A. D’Amore, Ph.D., MBA, of Massachusetts Eye and Ear; Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., of Mass. Eye and Ear and Joslin Diabetes Center; George L. King, M.D., of Joslin Diabetes Center; and Anthony P. Adamis, M.D., of Genentech, who is also affiliated with HMS Ophthalmology and Mass. Eye and Ear. Napoleone Ferrara, M.D., of University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, also received the award.
On Tuesday, May 5, Drs. Ferrara and Miller will present the Champalimaud Vision Award Lecture. Dr. Ferrara’s presentation is entitled “Discovery of VEGF-A, a Key Regulator of Intraocular Neovascularization,” and Dr. Miller will present “VEGF: from Discovery to Therapy.”
“The number of researchers who have pursued the origins and identity of what we now call VEGF has been legion; a quest that consumed more than half a century,” said Alfred Sommer, Chairman of the António Champalimaud Vision Award Jury and University Distinguished Service Professor and Dean Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University. “It is especially gratifying to recognize six researchers, many of whom worked or studied with the late Dr. Judah Folkman, who did so much to popularize the concept before the elusive molecule was ever isolated, for their contributions to understanding its role in a variety of ocular diseases; and Napoleone Ferrara, who was the first to clone VEGF and develop a therapeutically active variant to block its action.”
About Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School (hms.harvard.edu) has more than 7,500 full-time faculty working in 11 academic departments located at the School’s Boston campus or in one of 47 hospital-based clinical departments at 16 Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes. Those affiliates include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Hebrew Senior Life, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children’s Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and VA Boston Healthcare System
Two prominent faculty members of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology and Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute will receive prestigious 2015 achievement awards today at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting being held this week, May 3 through 7 in Denver, Colorado. In addition, on Tuesday, May 5, the winners of the 2014 António Champalimaud Vision Award―including six HMS researchers―will be recognized at a special Champalimaud Foundation lecture and event held during the ARVO conference. ARVO is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Its members include more than 12,750 researchers from over 80 countries.
Patricia D’Amore, Ph.D., MBA, FARVO, is the recipient of the 2015 Proctor Medal. Dr. D’Amore is Director of Research at Schepens Eye Research Institute, as well as the Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology at HMS. Joan W. Miller, M.D., FARVO is the recipient of the ARVO Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology. Dr. Miller is the Henry Willard Williams Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at HMS, and Chief of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital. Both award recipients will deliver award lectures at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
The Proctor Medal honors Dr. D’Amore’s outstanding research contributions in the basic or clinical sciences as applied to ophthalmology. Established in 1949, the Proctor Medal is named for Dr. Francis I. Proctor, an ophthalmologist who conducted extensive research on the etiology and treatment of trachoma. This was the first ophthalmology-related award to recognize basic scientists in the field. Dr. D’Amore will present an award lecture entitled “Regulation of Retinal Vascular Growth: Development, Pathology and Therapeutics.”
“ARVO is honored to have Dr. D’Amore as the recipient of the 2015 Proctor Medal,” said William Mieler, M.D., FARVO, President of ARVO. “Her outstanding research on vascular growth and development throughout her career will continue the tradition of superb and highly deserving Proctor Medal recipients. We all look forward to her Proctor Medal Lecture at the ARVO 2015 annual meeting.”
The 2015 Mildred Weisenfeld Award recognizes Dr. Joan Miller’s distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology. The award was established as a tribute to Ms. Weisenfeld's outstanding contributions to the field, which include the founding of Fight for Sight in 1946, a not-for-profit foundation that provides promising scientists funding for eye research. Dr. Miller is the first woman to ever receive this honor, and will present the Weisenfeld Award Lecture entitled “Beyond VEGF.”
“Dr. Miller's leading-edge research on ocular angiogenesis has changed the lives of vision-impaired persons across the globe,” said Justine Smith, Ph.D., FRANZCO, FARVO, Immediate Past President of ARVO. “She is most deserving of this very important ARVO Achievement Award.”
Drs. D’Amore and Miller have been at the forefront of angiogenesis and vision research for over three decades. Their foremost contributions include the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the elusive “Factor X” that causes pathological blood vessel growth in blinding neovascular eye diseases. These investigations formed the scientific foundations of anti-VEGF therapies, which were first approved for clinical use in 2004 and currently used to treat various cancers and ocular vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
António Champalimaud Vision Award and Lecture
Established by The Champalimaud Foundation in 2006, the António Champalimaud Vision Award is the highest distinction in ophthalmology and visual science, and honors outstanding contributions to the preservation and understanding of sight. In even-numbered years, the award is given for vision research, and in alternate years it recognizes efforts to alleviate visual problems in developing countries or through humanitarian endeavors. The 2014 Champalimaud Vision Award was given “for the development of anti-angiogenic therapy for retinal disease” and presented last fall at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal. Among the 2014 Champalimaud Laureates are six HMS researchers: Joan W. Miller, M.D., Evangelos S. Gragoudas, M.D., and Patricia A. D’Amore, Ph.D., MBA, of Massachusetts Eye and Ear; Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., of Mass. Eye and Ear and Joslin Diabetes Center; George L. King, M.D., of Joslin Diabetes Center; and Anthony P. Adamis, M.D., of Genentech, who is also affiliated with HMS Ophthalmology and Mass. Eye and Ear. Napoleone Ferrara, M.D., of University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, also received the award.
On Tuesday, May 5, Drs. Ferrara and Miller will present the Champalimaud Vision Award Lecture. Dr. Ferrara’s presentation is entitled “Discovery of VEGF-A, a Key Regulator of Intraocular Neovascularization,” and Dr. Miller will present “VEGF: from Discovery to Therapy.”
“The number of researchers who have pursued the origins and identity of what we now call VEGF has been legion; a quest that consumed more than half a century,” said Alfred Sommer, Chairman of the António Champalimaud Vision Award Jury and University Distinguished Service Professor and Dean Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University. “It is especially gratifying to recognize six researchers, many of whom worked or studied with the late Dr. Judah Folkman, who did so much to popularize the concept before the elusive molecule was ever isolated, for their contributions to understanding its role in a variety of ocular diseases; and Napoleone Ferrara, who was the first to clone VEGF and develop a therapeutically active variant to block its action.”
About Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School (hms.harvard.edu) has more than 7,500 full-time faculty working in 11 academic departments located at the School’s Boston campus or in one of 47 hospital-based clinical departments at 16 Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes. Those affiliates include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Hebrew Senior Life, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children’s Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and VA Boston Healthcare System
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Dr. Lori Snyder Joins Advanced Ophthalmology
Dr. Snyder is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
Dr Lori Snyder, M.D. joined Advanced Ophthalmology in February of 2015. Dr Lori Snyder grew up in Maryland and attended high school at the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C. Dr Snyder attended college at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
After earning her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Dr. Snyder completed her internship in internal medicine at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania. Following a three year ophthalmology residency at the Krieger Eye Institute at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore where she served as Chief Resident, Dr. Snyder completed a fellowship in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Snyder received her Board Certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology in 2001.
While in medical school, Dr. Snyder was elected to serve as President, Governing Council Representative, and Delegate of the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association. Throughout her ophthalmology residency, Dr. Snyder was an Executive Board Member of the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. During her residency, Dr Snyder volunteered for the Maryland Society for the Sight and the Healthcare of the Homeless Vision Van. Dr. Snyder is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the American Medical Association.
Dr Lori Snyder, M.D. joined Advanced Ophthalmology in February of 2015. Dr Lori Snyder grew up in Maryland and attended high school at the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C. Dr Snyder attended college at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
After earning her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Dr. Snyder completed her internship in internal medicine at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania. Following a three year ophthalmology residency at the Krieger Eye Institute at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore where she served as Chief Resident, Dr. Snyder completed a fellowship in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Snyder received her Board Certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology in 2001.
While in medical school, Dr. Snyder was elected to serve as President, Governing Council Representative, and Delegate of the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association. Throughout her ophthalmology residency, Dr. Snyder was an Executive Board Member of the Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. During her residency, Dr Snyder volunteered for the Maryland Society for the Sight and the Healthcare of the Homeless Vision Van. Dr. Snyder is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and the American Medical Association.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Jeffrey Goldberg to lead Stanford’s Department of Ophthalmology
Jeffrey Goldberg, who earned a doctorate and medical degree at Stanford, said he plans to leverage the university’s expertise in neuroscience, engineering and genetics to expand research in regenerative ophthalmology.
Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist with interests in glaucoma, optic nerve regeneration and ganglion cell survival, has been appointed chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
He will start Aug. 1.
Goldberg, who earned his doctorate and medical degrees at Stanford, is now director of research and professor of ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California-San Diego.
“Jeff’s institutional leadership, blend of basic and translational research experience and commitment to providing the highest-quality patient care make him the right person to lead Stanford’s Department of Ophthalmology at this time of growth and potential,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “We are excited that he is returning to Stanford.”
Minor thanked Mark Blumenkranz, MD, the H.J. Smead Professor of Ophthalmology, for his 16 years of service as head of the department. “During Mark’s time as chair, ophthalmology at Stanford has been instrumental in many major advances in eye care, including the invention of many of the features of modern ophthalmic laser delivery systems for the retina, and has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for providing high-quality care and service to patients.”
Goldberg was selected from a pool of 117 nominees, said Quynh Le, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, who led the search committee. “The reason he stands out is he has an amazing trajectory,” she said.
As a graduate student at Stanford, Goldberg trained under neurobiologist Ben Barres, MD, PhD, and worked on optic nerve regeneration. Only a year later, he was named an assistant professor at the University of Miami. He joined UCSD in 2012.
Barres, professor of neurobiology, of developmental biology and of neurology and neurological sciences, said he is delighted to welcome his mentee back to Stanford. “Jeffrey is an outstanding physician-scientist who is also highly translationally oriented,” Barres said. “I expect he will not only continue the tradition of clinical excellence here in ophthalmology, but also create a very research-intensive department that will be a leader in pioneering new treatments for eye disease.”
Goldberg said that although Stanford’s department has grown considerably, he plans to continue its clinical and research growth. He said he plans to leverage the university’s expertise in neuroscience, engineering and genetics to expand the department’s research in regenerative ophthalmology. He also plans to further build and integrate the department’s clinical, research and education programs.
“I plan to build a program that can do great basic research while developing treatments for patients,” he said.
Goldberg said he is thrilled to return to Stanford and to the Bay Area, where many of his family members live. He will be moving with his wife, Jennifer, and children Emma, Jacob and Isabel.
“Stanford is a fantastic university and a fantastic environment for research,” he said.
Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist with interests in glaucoma, optic nerve regeneration and ganglion cell survival, has been appointed chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
He will start Aug. 1.
Goldberg, who earned his doctorate and medical degrees at Stanford, is now director of research and professor of ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California-San Diego.
“Jeff’s institutional leadership, blend of basic and translational research experience and commitment to providing the highest-quality patient care make him the right person to lead Stanford’s Department of Ophthalmology at this time of growth and potential,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the School of Medicine. “We are excited that he is returning to Stanford.”
Minor thanked Mark Blumenkranz, MD, the H.J. Smead Professor of Ophthalmology, for his 16 years of service as head of the department. “During Mark’s time as chair, ophthalmology at Stanford has been instrumental in many major advances in eye care, including the invention of many of the features of modern ophthalmic laser delivery systems for the retina, and has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for providing high-quality care and service to patients.”
Goldberg was selected from a pool of 117 nominees, said Quynh Le, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, who led the search committee. “The reason he stands out is he has an amazing trajectory,” she said.
As a graduate student at Stanford, Goldberg trained under neurobiologist Ben Barres, MD, PhD, and worked on optic nerve regeneration. Only a year later, he was named an assistant professor at the University of Miami. He joined UCSD in 2012.
Barres, professor of neurobiology, of developmental biology and of neurology and neurological sciences, said he is delighted to welcome his mentee back to Stanford. “Jeffrey is an outstanding physician-scientist who is also highly translationally oriented,” Barres said. “I expect he will not only continue the tradition of clinical excellence here in ophthalmology, but also create a very research-intensive department that will be a leader in pioneering new treatments for eye disease.”
Goldberg said that although Stanford’s department has grown considerably, he plans to continue its clinical and research growth. He said he plans to leverage the university’s expertise in neuroscience, engineering and genetics to expand the department’s research in regenerative ophthalmology. He also plans to further build and integrate the department’s clinical, research and education programs.
“I plan to build a program that can do great basic research while developing treatments for patients,” he said.
Goldberg said he is thrilled to return to Stanford and to the Bay Area, where many of his family members live. He will be moving with his wife, Jennifer, and children Emma, Jacob and Isabel.
“Stanford is a fantastic university and a fantastic environment for research,” he said.
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