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Tag: Vision

  • UC Davis Eye Center tests experimental gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

    UC Davis Eye Center tests experimental gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

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    Newswise — (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Ophthalmologists at UC Davis Health used an experimental gene therapy last month to treat a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration, or wet AMD. It was the first time the UC Davis Eye Center had used gene therapy.

    The treatment was part of a randomized, partially masked, controlled, phase 3 clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of an experimental therapy, ABBV-RGX-314, for wet AMD. UC Davis Health is one of 93 sites in the U.S. participating in the clinical trial.

    This investigational treatment is not FDA approved, and the efficacy and safety have not been established.

    Wet AMD affects approximately 2 million people in the United States, Europe and Japan. It is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults.

    “The current treatments for wet AMD may be life-long, and injections can be as frequent as every month,” said Glenn Yiu, professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis Health and principal investigator for the new clinical trial. “If approved, a gene therapy solution has the potential to maintain vision while reducing the number of injections, by allowing the eye to continuously produce the medicine on its own,” Yiu said.

    In AMD, the macula, an area of the eye’s lining that helps you see, becomes damaged. This can blur the central part of your vision, making it hard to drive or read. An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines look distorted and wavy.

    In wet, or neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina. These vessels lead to bleeding or fluid leakage in the back of your eye, causing vision loss. This process, known as “neovascularization,” is largely driven by a growth factor called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

    Treatments for wet AMD rely on repeated injections of drugs that block VEGF in the diseased eye.

    An illustration of a normal retina compared to a retina with wet AMD. The normal retina shows a flat layer of cells lining the eye and the wet AMD retina shows a branching blood vessel extending into and pushing up the cell layer.
    In wet or neovascular AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina, leading to bleeding or fluid leakage in the eye.

    Gene therapy may offer different approach

    Unlike stem cell therapies used to treat eye diseases — which involve injecting cells with regenerative or restorative capabilities into the eye — gene therapy generally uses an empty viral envelope (a vector) to deliver a gene with specific genetic instructions for making protein.

    ABBV-RGX-314 contains genetic instructions for making anti-VEGF proteins. After a single injection of ABBV-RGX-314 gene therapy, the eye can start to make the medicine on its own.

    Yiu performed the first experimental gene therapy eye surgery at UC Davis Health in July. The procedure is more complex than administering a monthly injection. It includes a vitrectomy, where the viscous gel in the eye is removed and replaced with a saline infusion. The experimental treatment with its gene delivery vector is then injected underneath the retina.

    Yiu will monitor whether the participant will continue to need monthly anti-VEGF injections in the coming months.

    Paul Sieving is the former director of the National Eye Institute and is now a professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis Health. He established the Center for Ocular Regenerative Therapy (CORT) for pursuing cell and gene therapies.

    “It is noteworthy for patients in Northern California that UC Davis Health is doing experimental ocular gene therapy studies in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. What excites me most about this is the potential of Dr. Yiu’s work to reduce the repeated eye injections currently required for wet age-related macular degeneration,” Sieving said.

    UC Davis Health has enrolled three patients in the clinical trial and plans to enroll more. Individuals aged 50 to 88 with wet AMD who have had prior anti-VEGF injections may be eligible to participate.

    For more information, visit the study page, or email Denise Macias, clinical research supervisor, at [email protected].

    Resources

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    UC Davis Health

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  • Cell Therapy That Repairs Cornea Damage with Patient’s Own Stem Cells Achieves Positive Phase I Trial Results

    Cell Therapy That Repairs Cornea Damage with Patient’s Own Stem Cells Achieves Positive Phase I Trial Results

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    Newswise — BOSTON– A team led by researchers from Mass Eye and Ear, a member of Mass General Brigham, reports the results of a phase I trial of a revolutionary stem cell treatment called cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cell transplantation (CALEC), which was found to be safe and well-tolerated over the short term in four patients with significant chemical burns in one eye. According to the study published August 18 in Science Advances, the patients who were followed for 12 months experienced restored cornea surfaces — two were able to undergo a corneal transplant and two reported significant improvements in vision without additional treatment.

    While the phase I study was designed to determine preliminary safety and feasibility before advancing to a second phase of the trial, the researchers consider the early findings promising.

    “Our early results suggest that CALEC might offer hope to patients who had been left with untreatable vision loss and pain associated with major cornea injuries,” said principal investigator and lead study author Ula Jurkunas, MD, associate director of the Cornea Service at Mass Eye and Ear and an associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. “Cornea specialists have been hindered by a lack of treatment options with a high safety profile to help our patients with chemical burns and injuries that render them unable to get an artificial cornea transplant. We are hopeful with further study, CALEC can one day fill this crucially needed treatment gap.”

    In CALEC, stem cells from a patient’s healthy eye are removed via a small biopsy and then expanded and grown on a graft via an innovative manufacturing process at the Connell and O’Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. After two to three weeks, the CALEC graft is sent back to Mass Eye and Ear and transplanted into the eye with corneal damage.

    The CALEC project is a collaboration between Jurkunas and colleagues in the Cornea Service at Mass Eye and Ear, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, led by Jerome Ritz, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital, led by Myriam Armant, PhD, and the JAEB Center for Health Research. The clinical trial represents the first human study of a stem cell therapy to be funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

    Expanding one’s own stem cells to address limitations in existing treatments

    People who experience chemical burns and other eye injuries may develop limbal stem cell deficiency, an irreversible loss of cells on the tissue surrounding the cornea. These patients experience permanent vision loss, pain and discomfort in the affected eye. Without limbal cells and a healthy eye surface, patients are unable to undergo artificial cornea transplants, the current standard of vision rehabilitation.

    Existing treatment strategies have limitations and associated risks the CALEC procedure aims to address through its unique approach of using a small amount of a patient’s own stem cells that can then be grown and expanded to create a sheet of cells that serves as a surface for normal tissue to grow back.

    According to the authors, despite landmark studies describing an autologous stem cell approach over the past 25 years and similar methods being utilized in Europe, no U.S. research team had successfully developed a manufacturing process and quality control tests that met U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements or showed any clinical benefit.

    “It was challenging to develop a process for creating limbal stem cell grafts that would meet the FDA’s strict regulatory requirements for tissue engineering,” said Ritz, executive director of the Connell and O’Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Having developed and implemented this process, it was very gratifying to see encouraging clinical outcomes in the first cohort of patients enrolled on this clinical trial.”

    Studies like this show the promise of cell therapy for treating incurable conditions. Mass General Brigham’s Gene and Cell Therapy Institute is helping to translate scientific discoveries made by researchers into first-in-human clinical trials and, ultimately, life-changing treatments for patients. The Institute’s multidisciplinary approach sets it apart from others in the space, helping researchers to rapidly advance new therapies and pushing the technological and clinical boundaries of this new frontier.

    Case studies hold early promise as clinical trial advances

    In the phase I study, five patients with chemical burns to one eye were enrolled and biopsied. Four received CALEC; a series of quality control tests determined the cells in the fifth patient were unable to adequately expand. The CALEC patients were tracked for 12 months.

    The first patient treated, a 46-year-old male, experienced a resolution of his eye surface defect, which primed him to undergo an artificial cornea transplant for vision rehabilitation. The second, a 31-year-old male, experienced a complete resolution of symptoms with vision improving from 20/40 to 20/30. The third, a 36-year-old male, had his corneal defect resolved and his vision improved from hand motion – only being able to see broad movements like waving – to 20/30 vision. The fourth, a 52-year-old male, initially did not have a successful biopsy that resulted in a viable stem cell graft. After re-attempting CALEC three years later, he underwent a successful transplant and his vision improved from hand motion to being able to count fingers. He then received an artificial cornea.

    The researchers are finalizing the next phase of the clinical trial in 15 CALEC patients they are tracking for 18 months to better determine the procedure’s overall efficacy. Their hope is that CALEC can one day become a treatment option for patients who previously had to endure long-term deficits when existing treatment options were not an option given the severity of their injuries.

    “The CALEC project is a wonderful example of the mission that drives our clinician-scientists of bringing work from the laboratory to patients,” said Joan W. Miller, MD, chair of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General Hospital, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and chair of Ophthalmology and the David Glendenning Cogan Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. “We are inspired by a desire to provide patients who have limited treatment options with better possibilities for care, and Dr. Jurkunas and her colleagues at Mass Eye and Ear and across multiple academic centers have dedicated nearly two decades worth of work towards one day achieving this goal for people with significant corneal injuries.”

    This study was funded by NEI/NIH grants UG1EY026508 [Massachusetts Eye and Ear], UG1EY027726 [Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute], UG1EY027725 [Coordinating Center at the Jaeb Center for Health Research]. Pre-trial work (Boston Children’s Hospital) was also funded by PACT, an initiative of the of the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

    In addition to Drs. Jurkunas, Ritz, and Armant, additional investigators include Jia Yin, MD, PhD,MPH, Reza Dana, MD,  Lynette Johns, OD, Sanming Li, PhD, Ahmad Kheirkhah, MD, Kishore Katikireddy, PhD, Alex Gauthier, PhD, Stephan Ong Tone, MD, PhD and Stacey Ellender, PhD of Mass Eye and Ear, Hélène Negre, PharmD, PhD, Kit L. Shaw, PhD, Diego E. Hernandez Rodriguez, PhD, Heather Daley, BS, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Allison Ayala, MS, Maureen Maguire, PhD and Lassana Samarakoon, MPH, of Jaeb Center for Health Research.

    The CALEC procedure is patent pending. Jurkunas and Dana also disclose equity in Ocucell, a company interested in developing cell-based therapies for the eye.

    About Mass Eye and Ear

    Massachusetts Eye and Ear, founded in 1824, is an international center for treatment and research and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. A member of Mass General Brigham, Mass Eye and Ear specializes in ophthalmology (eye care) and otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ear, nose and throat care). Mass Eye and Ear clinicians provide care ranging from the routine to the very complex. Also home to the world’s largest community of hearing and vision researchers, Mass Eye and Ear scientists are driven by a mission to discover the basic biology underlying conditions affecting the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck and to develop new treatments and cures. In the 2023–2024 “Best Hospitals Survey,” U.S. News & World Report ranked Mass Eye and Ear #4 in the nation for eye care and #7 for ear, nose and throat care. For more information about life-changing care and research at Mass Eye and Ear, visit our blog, Focus, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

     

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    Massachusetts Eye and Ear

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  • T. Boone Pickens Foundation Donates $20 Million to Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine

    T. Boone Pickens Foundation Donates $20 Million to Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine

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    Newswise — The T. Boone Pickens Foundation, established by the late, Texan innovative energy leader and philanthropist, is donating $20 million to the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. The gift, announced in 2013, is one of the largest research donations in Wilmer’s history. It will fund vision-saving research and a professorship.

    Pickens’ interest in the treatment and research of eye conditions developed in the 1980s after his father’s diagnosis of macular degeneration, a progressive condition that disrupts the central field of vision and causes vision loss. At the time, no treatments existed to prevent decline of his father’s healthy vision.

    Pickens later publicly disclosed his own battle with macular degeneration and sought treatment from Wilmer for both this condition and cataracts. His care team, which included Walter Stark, M.D., and Neil Bressler, M.D., and which used the latest and most advanced treatments, was able to help Pickens retain most of his eyesight until his death in 2019 at the age of 91.

    “Walter Stark, like my dad, had deep Oklahoma roots,” says Pickens’ daughter, Liz Cordia. “They became fast friends. This friendship ultimately evolved into Walter treating my grandad’s glaucoma and my dad’s cataracts and later diagnosing his macular degeneration.”

    In 2005 and 2009, Pickens made gifts totaling $8 million — first to establish the Boone Pickens Professorship of Ophthalmology, currently held by Amir Kashani, M.D., Ph.D., and then to help with construction of the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building to house Wilmer’s research laboratories and state of the art operating rooms.

    “Mr. Pickens’ generous contributions to Wilmer will serve as the foundation on which teams of clinicians, scientists and engineers will develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to prevent blindness and improve the health of people around the world,” says Kashani.

    Along with cutting-edge research and the Boone Pickens Professorship, the $20 million gift from the Pickens Foundation will endow additional Boone Pickens Professorships, specifically for young investigators, called Rising Professorships. The funds will be allocated to researchers who conduct novel, vision-saving research that may be overlooked by other potential funding opportunities.

    ”The Pickens Rising Professors will be our best and brightest physician-scientists who are early in their careers and exploring their new ideas for improving the care of patients and ending blinding eye diseases” says Peter McDonnell, M.D., Wilmer’s director. “This transformative gift from our friend, Mr. Pickens, will accelerate our work in artificial intelligence, stem cells, nanotechnology and other exciting new frontiers.”

    The gift comes after Cordia and Jay Rosser, a foundation representative, visited Wilmer leaders and researchers early this summer to discuss how the donation would be used at the institute and new research spaces under construction at Johns Hopkins.

    “Advancing health and medical initiatives that would have impacts spanning generations was a core objective in Boone’s giving,” says Rosser. “When all is said and done, his philanthropic impact exceeded $1 billion and was directed at some of the world’s most cutting-edge research institutions, and the Wilmer Eye Institute stands high on that list.”

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    Johns Hopkins Medicine

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  • “Eggsplosions” and eyes don’t mix

    “Eggsplosions” and eyes don’t mix

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    BYLINE: Tessa Roy

    Putting a hard-boiled egg in the microwave is making users popular on TikTok, but that fame could come with a hefty price. 

    The trend on the social media app involves microwaving hard boiled eggs, then slicing them so they explode.

    Grace Wang, M.D., P.h.D, an ophthalmologist at Michigan Medicine, says it can be dangerous when this explosion happens.

    The flying egg debris and steam can impact a large area, and possibly injure people in its vicinity. 

    “The hot steam and the hot egg along with the force of the explosion can really hit you in the face and cause burns, and not just to your skin. It can burn your eyes and cause injuries,” Wang said. 

    These explosions typically cause thermal injury to the eyes, Wang says. This means damaged tissue, peeling skin and scars on the eyes, all of which can cause a lot of pain. It can also harm the cells that assist in repairing tissue on the front of the eye.

    SEE ALSO: Beezin’:The dangerous TikTok trend involving Burt’s Bees 

    Sometimes, injuries can be severe enough to require medical treatments or put people at risk of further infection. In the worst cases, people can experience long term vision issues from scarring.  

    These “eggsplosions” have been well documented even before TikTok. It’s not clear why the trend became popular on the app, but Wang says social media fame may be part of the allure. 

    “I think a reason for doing it is partly curiosity about the sound it makes, plus it’s something you can challenge your friends to do,” Wang said.

    “These videos can get a lot of views or clicks online because the explosion is an exciting thing that happens.” 

    Wang says anyone who tries the trend, or those who accidentally microwave a hard-boiled egg without knowing it can explode, should seek medical attention if they are injured.

    SEE ALSO: The Barbie feet challenge isn’t worth your Ken-ergy

    However, Wang recommends steering clear of this or any other trend that can cause injuries, regardless of any potential social media clout. 

    “Don’t try it, because it’s not worth it. You can get a lot of painful injuries that could alter your face, your appearance and your vision,” she said.

    “I think it’s good for families, if they find out about these trends, to talk about them with their children. Kids are often seeing these videos and how much attention they can get, but they’re not necessarily seeing the consequences.” 

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    Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan

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  • Vision & hearing linked in reptiles, study shows

    Vision & hearing linked in reptiles, study shows

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    Newswise — An international research team from Queen Mary University of London, UK and the Rovereto Civic Museum Foundation, Italy has made a groundbreaking discovery regarding reptiles and their ability to match visual and auditory information.

    Their study published in Biology Letters from Royal Society showed that reptiles demonstrate spontaneous associations between two different sensory modalities: vision and hearing. Tortoises associated low sounds with large shapes and high pitch sounds with small shapes, even if they had not been trained to do so. These results show how brains are prepared to predict visuo-acoustic correspondences that are likely to occur in the natural world.

    Previous research has shown similar matching between sensory modalities (crossmodal associations) in mammalian species such as humans, chimpanzees, and dogs. However, it was unclear whether these associations were present in other vertebrate animals, including reptiles. The study led by Dr Maria Loconsole from Queen Mary University of London (now at University of Padova) and Dr Elisabetta Versace also from Queen Mary University of London aimed to fill this gap in knowledge.

    To unveil the presence of spontaneous preferences for matching the two dimensions of acoustic pitch (high vs low tone) and visual size (small vs large disk), the team tested land tortoises (Testudo hermanni) in a choice task. After being trained to follow any sound to find a food reward, tortoises were tested for the preference for high and low pitch sounds associated to either small or large shapes.

    “Astonishingly, the tortoises consistently chose small disks when presented with high pitch sounds, and large disks when low pitch sounds were presented. The study has helped us understand how the patterns present in the natural environment such as correspondence between size and pitch shape the cognitive abilities of animals,” says Dr Maria Loconsole.

    These findings suggest that crossmodal associations are widespread across species and animal groups, indicating that they may be an organising principle of the vertebrate brain. “It is possible that mammals, birds, and reptiles have independently evolved this mechanism, or it may be a predisposed mechanism shared by descent from a common ancestor. Expanding research to a broad range of species is important to understand general principles of the organisation of the brain and evolution of behaviour,” concludes Dr Elisabetta Versace, Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London.

    “I enjoyed collaborating with Queen Mary University of London as it demonstrated the importance of preserving the sanctuary not only for the protection of land tortoises but also for advancing knowledge on animal behavior and cognition”, says Gionata Stancher, the head of Zoology Rovereto Civic Museum Foundation.

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    Queen Mary University of London

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  • Are You a Visionary Leader? Here Are 12 Ways to Get Started | Entrepreneur

    Are You a Visionary Leader? Here Are 12 Ways to Get Started | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of visionary leadership has become increasingly crucial. Visionary leaders possess a unique ability to inspire and guide their organizations toward a desired future state. History has shown that a visionary leader initiated every significant technological invention. They are catalysts for change, capable of transforming companies and shaping industries.

    As the founder of LEAD + VISION, a vision-based leadership coaching and consulting firm, I coach C-suite executives on building and elevating their visionary thinking skills. Today, we embark on a journey to explore the transformational effect of visionary leadership and uncover invaluable insights on how you can develop and elevate your visionary leadership skills.

    The power of visionary leadership

    Visionary leaders profoundly impact their organizations by providing a clear sense of purpose, direction and motivation. They possess a compelling vision, which acts as a guiding star for their teams. This vision serves as a roadmap, helping companies navigate through challenges, seize opportunities and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape.

    Transformational leaders have the ability to communicate their vision effectively, creating a shared understanding and sense of ownership among team members. Visionary leaders foster collaboration, inspire innovation and drive engagement by aligning the organization around a common goal. This synergy and excitement of a shared vision empower employees to go above and beyond their usual responsibilities, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

    Related: 3 Perspectives of Visionary Leaders

    Developing visionary skills

    While some individuals naturally possess visionary leadership abilities, it is a skill that can be trained and built with practice. Here are some strategies to cultivate and enhance visionary leadership skills:

    1. Self-reflection: Take time to introspect and define your personal values, passions and long-term goals. Understanding your own aspirations and what drives you will enable you to craft a compelling vision that resonates with your team.
    2. Environmental scanning: Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies and societal changes. By continuously scanning the external environment, you can anticipate shifts, identify opportunities and adjust your vision accordingly.
    3. Embrace the power of curiosity: Curiosity fuels the fire of visionary thinking. Embrace an insatiable hunger for knowledge, exploration and learning. Seek diverse experiences, delve into new domains and challenge conventional wisdom. By fostering an ever-curious mindset, you will expand your mental horizons, uncover hidden connections and illuminate the path toward visionary insights.
    4. Embrace systems thinking: Embrace the wisdom of systems thinking, for it is the cornerstone of connecting the dots. See your organization as an intricate ecosystem, interconnected and interdependent. Understand the ripple effects of decisions, the delicate balance of forces at play and the dynamic relationships within and beyond your organization. By adopting a systems thinking mindset, you will perceive the interwoven threads that shape your organization’s destiny.
    5. Foster a learning culture: Nurture a culture of continuous learning within your organization. Encourage your team to explore new concepts, engage in cross-functional collaborations and share their discoveries. Create spaces for open dialogue, where ideas can flow freely and diverse voices can be heard. By fostering a learning culture, you create an ecosystem where dots naturally converge, enabling the emergence of innovative solutions.
    6. Embrace data and analytics: In the age of digital transformation, data and analytics serve as a powerful lens to perceive hidden patterns. Leverage technology and data-driven insights to unearth correlations, trends and anomalies. Develop the ability to extract meaningful insights from vast volumes of information, enabling you to anticipate shifts, seize opportunities and connect the dots that others overlook.
    7. Encourage intuition and creativity: Visionary leaders understand the power of intuition and creativity as catalysts for connecting the dots. Cultivate your intuitive senses, trust your gut instincts and allow your subconscious mind to weave its magic. Embrace creativity, for it is the bridge that connects seemingly disparate elements, sparking innovative solutions and revealing unexpected connections.
    8. Engage in strategic thinking: Develop the ability to think strategically by analyzing complex problems, considering multiple perspectives and envisioning future scenarios. Strategic thinking allows you to anticipate challenges, devise innovative solutions and guide your organization toward success.
    9. Nurture an innovative culture: Cultivate a mindset of curiosity, experimentation and embracing calculated risks throughout your organization. Foster an environment where employees are encouraged to contribute their ideas and provide valuable feedback. By fostering a culture that celebrates innovation, you empower your team to break free from traditional boundaries, igniting transformative change and propelling your organization toward new heights.
    10. Effective communication: Master the art of communicating your vision clearly and consistently. Tailor your message to resonate with different stakeholders and adapt your communication style to suit diverse audiences. Use storytelling techniques to inspire and engage your team, painting a vivid picture of the desired future state.
    11. Build a diverse team: Surround yourself with individuals who bring different skill sets, perspectives and experiences. Diversity enhances creativity, fosters innovation and ensures that blind spots are identified and addressed. Embrace inclusive leadership practices that create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.
    12. Develop emotional intelligence: Visionary leaders understand the importance of empathy, emotional awareness and effective relationship-building. Cultivate emotional intelligence to inspire trust, motivate your team and foster a sense of purpose.

    In this era of constant disruption, visionary leadership is the catalyst for transformative change. By integrating these strategies into your leadership approach, you will unlock the full potential of your team and navigate the evolving business landscape with confidence.

    Embrace the visionary within you and let your leadership shine as you shape industries, inspire change and leave a lasting impact on your organization’s success. Your visionary journey starts now.

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    Tugba Yanaz

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  • Tips on Firework Safety from Doctors at the Midwest’s Largest Burn Center

    Tips on Firework Safety from Doctors at the Midwest’s Largest Burn Center

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    MAYWOOD, IL – Every Fourth of July weekend, millions gather to enjoy fireworks in cities and towns across the country, but for those who create their own displays, the holiday can be dangerous. Emergency rooms and burn centers see a significant increase in patients presenting with firework injuries in the month around July 4, said Mark Cichon, DO, chair of emergency medicine at Loyola Medicine. According to Dr. Cichon, eye injuries, hearing issues and finger and hand injuries are the most common.

    Firework injuries most often occur during unsanctioned displays and in the days after the Fourth, when children can find unexploded fireworks left behind. Teens and children in their exploring ages, around eight to 13 years old, should be watched closely around fireworks. “Even a split second of contact with a burning sparkler can cause a significant burn,” said Josh Carson, MD, director of the Loyola Medicine Burn Center. “A misfired firework can be deadly.”

    While Loyola Medicine does not condone unsanctioned displays, if people participate, there are a number of safety precautions that can reduce or prevent injuries. Dr. Cichon recommends keeping a sand bucket nearby, placing used sparklers in the bucket and disposing of them a day later. He says gloves and goggles are key to preventing serious injuries, and advises people to keep/have water hoses or fire extinguishers nearby. “If a firework doesn’t go off after being lit, do not look down at it. This is basically the equivalent of looking down the barrel of a gun,” says Dr. Cichon. “The shortened fuse can still go off, causing the firework to become a projectile into the face and body.”

    If a traumatic injury is sustained, where fingers or a part of the hand is blown off, attempt to secure the body part, wrap it in gauze and place it in a plastic bag. Place the plastic bag in a container with ice or chilled water and transport the patient to the appropriate facility as quickly as possible.

    Burns sustained from fireworks should be treated carefully, according to Dr. Carson. Any burn larger than the size of your palm or affecting the eyes and face should be treated as quickly as possible by a local burn center.

    “The most important first step is to stop the burning process,” says Dr. Carson. “Rinse any hot embers from the eyes with water as quickly as possible. Burns on the body should be rinsed under cool water, but not ice water, and only covered with a dry, sterile, nonstick bandage.”

    The most important thing to remember: if you are injured by fireworks, whether sanctioned or unsanctioned, be honest with health care providers about the nature of your injuries. “We are not law enforcement,” says Dr. Cichon. “Our only job is to make sure we properly treat every individual who comes through our emergency room, and we can only do this if we know how injuries were acquired. We always encourage people to go see the numerous sanctioned displays because the last thing they want is to visit the emergency room, and prevention is the best form of medicine.”

    At this link you can find a video of Dr. Carson addressing the most common burns and how to treat them. To learn more about Loyola Medicine, visit loyolamedicine.org. With one of the busiest burn centers in the Midwest, Loyola Medicine’s specialists have vast experience providing medical and surgical treatments for burns and trauma. Loyola’s outstanding success rates and multidisciplinary approach are recognized by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association.

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    Loyola Medicine

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  • Oral probiotic offers potential treatment for dry eye disease

    Oral probiotic offers potential treatment for dry eye disease

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    Newswise — Houston, TX –  In a study by a research group at Baylor College of Medicine, oral administration of a commercially available probiotic bacterial strain was found to improve dry eye disease in an animal model. The findings were presented at ASM Microbe 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

    Dry eye, a common condition in which tears produced by the eye can’t keep the eye adequately lubricated, afflicts approximately 1 in 20 people in the United States. It can cause eye stinging and burning, inflammation, blurry vision and light sensitivity. Extreme cases can result in damage to the eye’s surface if left untreated. The most common treatments involve the application of eye drops, gels or ointment. This new, unconventional treatment involves bacteria in the intestinal tract.

    Presenting author Laura Schaefer, Ph.D., of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said, “The ‘friendly’ bacteria that live in the human gastrointestinal tract have been linked to health and protection against disease in many parts of the body, including the gut, brain and lung. It’s therefore not surprising that the gut microbiome also has effects on our eyes.”

    Previous work by this research group showed that mice given gut bacteria from human Sjögren syndrome patients with severe dry eye developed worse eye disease under dry conditions than mice that were given gut bacteria from healthy human patients. This suggests that the gut bacteria from healthy people help to protect the surface of the eye in dry conditions. One possible treatment avenue for dry eye would involve probiotic bacteria that have similar protective effects. The group investigated this by using an orally administered probiotic bacterial strain, Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM17938, in a dry eye mouse model. DSM17938 is a human-derived, commercially available probiotic bacterial strain that has already demonstrated protective effects in the gut and immune system in humans and mice, but it has not been tested in the context of eye health.

    Mice were first treated with antibiotics, which kills many of the “friendly” bacteria living in the gut. They were then exposed to very dry conditions and fed daily doses of either probiotic bacteria or a saline solution as a control. After 5 days, the eyes were examined for disease. The mice that were fed the probiotic bacteria had healthier and more intact corneal surfaces. In addition, these mice had more goblet cells in their eye tissue, which are specialized cells that produce mucin, an essential component in tears. Taken together these data suggest that the right oral probiotic could help treat and manage dry eye symptoms.

    The authors in this study are Laura Schaefer, Robert Britton, Steven Pflugfelder and Cintia de Paiva. The research was performed in the laboratory of Dr. Cintia de Paiva in the Department of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine and supported with funds from the National Institutes of Health and the Research to Prevent Blindness Foundation.
     

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    American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

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  • New gene-editing technique reverses vision loss in mice

    New gene-editing technique reverses vision loss in mice

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    Newswise — Researchers in China have successfully restored the vision of mice with retinitis pigmentosa, one of the major causes of blindness in humans. The study, to be published March 17 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, uses a new, highly versatile form of CRISPR-based genome editing with the potential to correct a wide variety of disease-causing genetic mutations.

    Researchers have previously used genome editing to restore the vision of mice with genetic diseases, such as Leber congenital amaurosis, that affect the retinal pigment epithelium, a layer of non-neuronal cells in the eye that supports the light-sensing rod and cone photoreceptor cells. However, most inherited forms of blindness, including retinitis pigmentosa, are caused by genetic defects in the neural photoreceptors themselves.

    “The ability to edit the genome of neural retinal cells, particularly unhealthy or dying photoreceptors, would provide much more convincing evidence for the potential applications of these genome-editing tools in treating diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa,” says Kai Yao, a professor at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology.

    Retinitis pigmentosa can be caused by mutations in over 100 different genes and is estimated to impair the vision of 1 in 4,000 people. It begins with the dysfunction and death of dim light-sensing rod cells, before spreading to the cone cells required for color vision, eventually leading to severe, irreversible vision loss.

    Yao and colleagues attempted to rescue the vision of mice with retinitis pigmentosa caused by a mutation in the gene encoding a critical enzyme called PDE6β. To do this, Yao’s team developed a new, more versatile CRISPR system called PESpRY, which can be programmed to correct many different types of genetic mutation, regardless of where they occur within the genome.

    When programmed to target the mutant PDE6β gene, the PESpRY system was able to efficiently correct the mutation and restore the enzyme’s activity in the retinas of mice. This prevented the death of rod and cone photoreceptors and restored their normal electrical responses to light.

    Yao and colleagues performed a variety of behavioral tests to confirm that the gene-edited mice retained their vision even into old age. For example, the animals were able to find their way out of a visually guided water maze almost as well as normal, healthy mice and showed typical head movements in response to visual stimuli.

    Yao cautions that much work still needs to be done to establish both the safety and efficacy of the PESpRY system in humans. “However, our study provides substantial evidence for the in vivo applicability of this new genome-editing strategy and its potential in diverse research and therapeutic contexts, in particular for inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa,” Yao says.

     

    Qin et al. 2023. J. Exp. Med. https://rupress.org/jem/article-lookup/doi/10.1084/jem.20220776?PR

     

    # # #

     

    About Journal of Experimental Medicine

    Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) publishes peer-reviewed research on immunology, cancer biology, stem cell biology, microbial pathogenesis, vascular biology, and neurobiology. All editorial decisions on research manuscripts are made through collaborative consultation between professional scientific editors and the academic editorial board. Established in 1896, JEM is published by Rockefeller University Press, a department of The Rockefeller University in New York. For more information, visit jem.org.

    Visit our Newsroom, and sign up for a weekly preview of articles to be published. Embargoed media alerts are for journalists only.

    Follow JEM on Twitter at @JExpMed and @RockUPress.

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  • Tweak Your Company’s Mission Statement to Inspire Sustainability With Just One Word | Entrepreneur

    Tweak Your Company’s Mission Statement to Inspire Sustainability With Just One Word | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Companies have vision statements that summarize their values for a reason — employees that get on board with your mission and vision tend to work harder for you, and according to the Dale Carnegie institute, companies with engaged workers outperform competitors by 202%. Still, as the current focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) demonstrates, times change. You’ll have to update your vision to keep pace with this new ESG focus, but as little as one word can be all you need to improve your relevancy and influence.

    Related: Vision Statements: Why You Need One and How to Create One

    Brief and built into everything

    Good vision statements are memorable. To achieve that memorability, your best bet is to keep your new, ESG-oriented vision statement as brief as possible.

    Take Cisco. If they had written something like “to build voice-over-IP systems that utilize the most advanced internet connection technologies, are the best in the industry, and return a great value to our shareholders,” people probably wouldn’t have given the words more than a quick skim before moving on to something more interesting. Their actual vision, “changing the way we work, live, play and learn,” is more to the point and free of jargon. It gets across that Cisco wants to be a change agent and that it understands the significance of connection and communication in our world.

    At Merchants Fleet, we adhered to this rule of simplicity first by consolidating the multiple vision statements we had for different areas of the business into just one: “Enabling the movement of people, goods and services freely.” To update this for ESG later on, we added a single word: “responsibly.”

    Once you have a concise vision statement that incorporates some ESG values, you’re not done. You then have to go back and look at all the training and messaging your company has. Are the ESG values there, too?

    Ensuring that the values are consistently visible in everything you do supports buy-in to the vision statement because it shows your team that you’re serious about the ESG shift and are going to follow it up with a real plan of action. At the same time, the concise vision statement helps workers understand why you’re approaching the training and messaging the way you are.

    Related: Why Companies Need to Think More Strategically About Their Environmental Impact

    Perspective and keeping promises matter

    When we added the word “responsibly” to our vision to ensure it had an ESG focus, we recognized a critical point — “responsibly” means different things to different people.

    If our business suddenly got rid of every gas vehicle we’ve got, it would seem responsible to clients who are fully behind electric cars, vans and trucks. But it would seem irresponsible to clients who don’t have a lot of charging stations around or who have to travel distances that are still beyond the range of an electric vehicle (EV). For one of our clients, it didn’t make financial sense to try to install the infrastructure EVs would have required.

    In the same way, our company’s diversity profiles in New Hampshire and Chicago are very different. In New Hampshire, our profile is at 5% diversity, yet that’s higher than the New Hampshire average. In Chicago, we’re 45% diverse, simply because that area is more diverse overall. To require 45% diversity would seem responsible in Chicago but near impossible in New Hampshire.

    So as you adapt for ESG, be careful to give the word or words you add careful thought and avoid absolutes, even as you push for something that’s still specific. The words should be acceptable and understandable on a broad level, but they should also be flexible enough that you can still meet the needs and expectations of your entire base. They shouldn’t alienate anyone, including your employees.

    Similarly, make sure that your mission statement is realistic and attainable. If you choose a word that makes it impossible to follow through on your promise, customers will see that you’re not doing what you said and lose faith in you. Suppose you’re an airline company. If you added the phrase “on time” to your mission statement, you’d be opening the door to a massive number of complaints, as there are just too many variables around airlines to promise you’ll hit every time point perfectly. If you add “safely,” though, that’s much easier to achieve consistently.

    The best practice is to aim for something that’s timeless and a little better than what you had. Leave buzzwords and trends on the shelf because the more you change your vision statement, the less memorable or sticky it will be.

    Related: Three Letters That Will Make Your Company More Successful and Sustainable

    The journey, action, and accountability are all ongoing

    Keeping in mind that there’s a connection between your ESG vision statement and the practices of your company, consider your vision statement an ongoing journey. Revisit it on a regular basis to make sure it still works for you in an authentic way.

    Any time you tweak your statement and add more words, make sure you have an execution plan and accountability. When we added “responsibly” to Merchants Fleet’s vision statement, we were clear that we were adding an ESG team. But your moves could also include reorganizing, doing more training or developing checks and balances. Expect to sum up what you’re doing and the results you’re getting in reports along the way. The rule is to understand that you’re signing up to develop new goals and take additional action with whatever you add.

    Related: Why ESG Companies Are Better Equipped to Weather an Economic Storm

    ESG can deliver both stability and positive change

    Even though ESG is getting more press than it used to, it’s something great companies have always practiced, and the need to connect your ethics to your action will always be relevant. ESG values can ground your business through multiple generations in a powerful way. At the same time, they can help you continuously explore how you can still grow to be a larger help to everyone around you. If you integrate those values into your vision statement, which is the foundation for everything you do, you’ll get the buy-in necessary for the positive change you want.

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  • ARVO Foundation Announces 2022 Point of View Award Winner

    ARVO Foundation Announces 2022 Point of View Award Winner

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md.—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) congratulates Tasneem Khatib DM, FRCOphth—recipient of the 2022 Point of View Award.

    Established by the Point of View Foundation (Fundació Punt de Vista), the award provides a $20,000 cash prize in recognition of an outstanding scholarly article related to efforts to restore vision through regenerative ophthalmology, biotechnology, whole eye transplantation or other approaches. Khatib’s article is entitled:

    • Receptor-ligand replacement via a self-cleaving 2A peptide-based gene therapy promotes CNS axonal transport with functional recovery; Science Advances; March 31, 2021 (Corresponding author: Keith Martin, MA, DM, MRCP, FRCOphth, FRANZCO, FARVO)

    “The axons of nerve cells function like a railway system, where the cargo is essential components required for the cells to survive and function,” noted Khatib. “In neurodegenerative diseases, this railway system can get damaged or blocked. We reasoned that replacing two molecules that we know work effectively together would help to repair this transport network more effectively than delivering either one alone, and that is what we found. Rather than using the standard gene therapy approach of replacing or repairing damaged genes, we used the technique to supplement these molecules in the retina…The combined approach leads to a much more sustained therapeutic effect, which is very important for a treatment aimed at a chronic degenerative disease.”

    “We are very honoured to receive this award which will help us to continue to develop translatable therapies for patients with blinding disease,” says Khatib. “While this paper reports early stage research, we believe it shows promise for helping to treat neurodegenerative diseases that have so far proved intractable. Gene therapy has already proved effective for some rare monogenic conditions, and we hope it will be similarly useful for these more complex diseases which are much more common.”

    Khatib completed her doctoral research in neurobiology and glaucoma at the Centre for Brain Repair (University of Cambridge) and her ophthalmology residency at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She then undertook further subspecialty surgical fellowship training in glaucoma at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. Currently, she is a postdoctoral scholar at Byers Eye Institute (Stanford Medicine) in Stanford, Calif.

    For more information about the Point of View Award, visit ARVO’s website

    # # #

    The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

    Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.

    Based in Spain, the Point of View Foundation (Fundació Punt de Vista) is dedicated to advancing scientific research related to disease and injuries of the eye and visual system. To learn more about their work, visit the Fundació Punt de Vista website.

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  • Glaucoma Research Foundation Hosts 12th Annual Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum in San Francisco

    Glaucoma Research Foundation Hosts 12th Annual Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum in San Francisco

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    Newswise — SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 26, 2023: Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) will host the 12th Annual Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum on February 3rd at San Francisco’s iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel.   

    Attracting nearly 400 participants annually, this unique gathering unites leaders in the field of glaucoma for a full day of informative presentations, inspiring discussions, and vital networking opportunities. Clinicians, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capital financiers, FDA representatives, key opinion leaders, glaucoma patients — all meet, learn, share ideas, and collaborate at the only event of its kind, aimed at speeding the development of new therapies and diagnostics for glaucoma patients.

    Glaucoma visionary Malik Kahook, MD, Chief of the Sue Anschutz-Rogers Eye Center at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, will deliver the Drs. Henry and Frederick Sutro Memorial Lecture, the Forum’s keynote address. Dr. Kahook will shed light on advances in sustained drug delivery that can help overcome barriers to care and empower clinicians with better ways to deliver needed therapy. The lecture, “Sustained Drug Delivery for Glaucoma: From Promise to Reality,” will cover current drug delivery mechanisms as well as new ways to deliver known therapeutics to targeted tissues.

    In addition to Dr. Kahook, more than 50 speakers have been invited from companies and institutions across the US and around the world.  

    “We will once again feature early-stage companies and their new technologies and approaches to glaucoma care. The amount of innovation that is flourishing in the glaucoma space right now is phenomenal,” said Adrienne Graves, PhD, a Glaucoma Research Foundation board member, and event co-founder.

    Dr. Graves added, “As a result, there are more therapeutic options than ever before to help patients. Glaucoma 360 is an important catalyst to bring all the important elements together that can advance a promising idea into clinical use.” 

    Andrew Iwach, MD, Glaucoma Research Foundation board chair and co-founder of Glaucoma 360 with Dr. Graves, believes New Horizons Forum offers exclusive rewards for clinicians and others willing to visit San Francisco for some in-person, immersive networking. “One of the most important things we can do for our patients is stay up to date on new and upcoming solutions,” he says. “At New Horizons and other Glaucoma 360 events, you can do that — and help usher in the next generation of care.” 

    Past participants say the New Horizons Forum is a not-to-be missed meeting of the minds — an outstanding blend of basic science, clinical insight, and industry perspective, all in a congenial atmosphere conducive to collaboration.

    New Horizons Forum is the centerpiece of Glaucoma 360, GRF’s signature three-day series of events planned for February 2 to 4, 2023. Glaucoma 360 kicks off with the Annual Gala to benefit GRF’s research and patient education programs and will honor leaders in glaucoma research and the visionaries and catalysts who share Glaucoma Research Foundation’s mission to cure glaucoma and restore vision through innovative research.

    Glaucoma 360 concludes with two continuing medical education symposia for ophthalmologists and optometrists. At the 27th annual Glaucoma Symposium CME on February 4, the Shaffer-Hetherington-Hoskins Keynote Lecture will be presented by Mildred M.G. Oliver, MD, Senior Associate Dean at the University of Ponce, St. Louis, and will highlight the need for improved health equity in glaucoma. 

    About Glaucoma Research Foundation

    Founded in San Francisco in 1978, Glaucoma Research Foundation is America’s oldest and most experienced institution dedicated to its mission to cure glaucoma and restore vision through innovative research. The Foundation has a proven track record of pioneering, results-oriented research and produces definitive educational materials used by eye care professionals across the country. The Glaucoma Research Foundation website, www.glaucoma.org, provides valuable information about glaucoma to 3 million visitors annually.

    For more information about Glaucoma Research Foundation and Glaucoma 360 events, please contact, Brizette Castellanos at 415.986.3162, ext. 221 or [email protected] or visit www.glaucoma360.org.

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  • Combining multiple maps reveal new genetic risk factors for blindness

    Combining multiple maps reveal new genetic risk factors for blindness

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    Newswise — Combining a map of gene regulatory sites with disease-associated loci has uncovered a new genetic risk factor of adult-onset macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study publishing January 17th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Ran Elkon and Ruth Ashery-Padan of Tel Aviv University, Israel, and colleagues. The finding advances the understanding of the leading cause of visual impairment in adults.

    AMD is caused by dysfunction in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), a layer of tissue sandwiched between the photoreceptors that receive light, and the choriocapillaris, which nourishes the retina. Because of the central importance of the RPE in AMD, the authors began by exploring a transcription factor (a protein that regulates specific genes) called LHX2 which, based on the team’s analysis of mouse mutants, is central to RPE development. Knocking down LHX2 activity in RPE derived from human stem cells, they found that most affected genes were down-regulated, indicating that LHX2’s role was likely that of a transcriptional activator, binding to regulatory sites on the genome to increase activity of other genes.

    The authors found that one affected gene, called OTX2, collaborated with LHX2 to regulate many genes in the RPE. By mapping the genomic sites that OTX2 and LHX2 could bind to, they showed that 68% of those that bound LHX2 were also bound by OTX2 (864 sites in all), suggesting they likely work together to promote the activity of a large suite of genes involved in RPE development and function.

    A common method for finding genes that may contribute to a disease is to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS), which identifies genome sequence differences between individuals (termed single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) that co-occur with disease. Numerous such studies have previously been done in AMD. However, a GWAS by itself cannot uncover a causal mechanism. Here, the authors compared their LHX2/OTX2 binding data to GWAS data in order to home in on variations that affected binding of the transcription factors, and thus may contribute to disease.

    One such binding site was located within the promoter region of a gene called TRPM1, which had been previously linked to AMD, and found that the sequence variant at that site altered the binding strength of LHX2; the so-called C version bound it more strongly than the T version, and activity of the TRPM1 gene was higher when the C allele was present instead of the T allele.

    The results of the study indicate that the previously known increased risk of AMD from the variant identified in the GWAS was due to reduction in binding of the LHX2 transcription factor to the TRPM1 gene promoter, with a consequent reduction in activity of this gene. The gene encodes a membrane ion channel, and previous studies have shown that mutations in the gene also cause visual impairment.

    “Our study exemplifies how delineation of tissue-specific transcriptional regulators, their binding sites across the genome, and their downstream gene-regulatory networks can provide insights into a complex disease’s pathology,” the authors said.

    Ashery-Padan adds, “The findings reveal a regulatory module consisting of LHX2 and OTX2 that controls the development and maintenance of the retinal pigmented epithelium, an important tissue of visual function. The genomic analyses further link the genomic regions bound by the two developmental factors to the genetics of the common, multifactorial blinding disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD).”

    #####

    In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Biology: http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001924

    Press-only preview: https://plos.io/3GK3PF3

     

    Citation: Cohen-Gulkar M, David A, Messika-Gold N, Eshel M, Ovadia S, Zuk-Bar N, et al. (2023) The LHX2-OTX2 transcriptional regulatory module controls retinal pigmented epithelium differentiation and underlies genetic risk for age-related macular degeneration. PLoS Biol 21(1): e3001924. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001924

    Author Countries: Israel

    Funding: see manuscript

    Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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  • ARVO Foundation Announces 2023 Recipient of Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists

    ARVO Foundation Announces 2023 Recipient of Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md.—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Foundation congratulates Edmund Arthur, OD, PhD, the 2023 recipient of the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority (URM) Emerging Vision Scientists. Arthur will receive a two-year grant totaling $100,000 to support research and personnel costs for establishing an independent vision research program.

    The Genentech Award is intended to provide early-career URM investigators with an opportunity to explore novel and innovative research project ideas. An optometrist and a vision scientist, Arthur is currently an assistant professor of optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research is investigating a novel retinal vascular biomarker for early diabetic retinopathy (DR) detection and disease monitoring known as the peripheral capillary free zones.

    “This award provides critical support for my research career,” says Arthur. “The data from this two-year pilot study will inform several future research projects in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) in my lab.” Arthur noted this includes a biological variable model for screening and early detection of DR and DME in underserved populations. “This will be a three-year cross-sectional study aimed at developing a biological variable model that includes ethnicity, HbA1c, age, and sex in screening for individuals at risk of worse diabetes associated retinal neurodegeneration in underserved populations.”

    As part of the award, ARVO will also match Arthur with a mentor outside of his home institution to provide support for his career advancement.

    For more information about the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists, visit ARVO’s website.

    # # #

    The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

    Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.

    Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit Gene.com. 

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  • Consider risks and alternatives before deciding on LASIK surgery, UT Southwestern ophthalmologists say

    Consider risks and alternatives before deciding on LASIK surgery, UT Southwestern ophthalmologists say

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    Newswise — DALLAS – Jan. 13, 2023 – Patients considering LASIK vision correction surgery should weigh the risks as well as benefits and see a doctor who can assess whether they are a good candidate for the procedure, according to an ophthalmologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

    “At UT Southwestern, we use a patient-specific approach to LASIK with technology that calculates the precise pattern of a patient’s eye, like a fingerprint, and adapts the treatment to those measurements. This level of customization is one of the keys to reducing the potential for side effects,” said William Waldrop, M.D., Assistant Professor in UT Southwestern’s Department of Ophthalmology.

    New guidelines proposed by the Food and Drug Administration would require physicians to provide better communication about the risks associated with LASIK, which can include dry eyes; visual phenomena such as glare or halos; decreased vision in low-light settings; eye pain; and temporary distortions in vision. Many of these side effects dissipate after three to six months. 

    Each year, an estimated 700,000 patients in the U.S. undergo LASIK to reduce their dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The procedure, which has been available in the U.S. since 1998, is fast, painless, and in most cases, provides improved vision for 10 years or longer.

    “From the beginning, LASIK outcomes have been outstanding, and we’ve continually improved the procedure to allow for a higher likelihood of better vision and higher quality vision,” Dr. Waldrop said. “Ultimately, though, the answer may be ‘no’ to LASIK, and sometimes that is the safest choice. LASIK isn’t always the best or only option for vision correction.”

    Dr. Waldrop said patients considering LASIK should focus first on choosing the right surgeon. UTSW ophthalmologists are skilled in a variety of vision correction surgeries, including advanced surface ablation and refractive lens exchange.

    “You want a surgeon who will take the time to do a thorough examination and pre-surgical workup to determine if it’s appropriate for your unique characteristics,” he said. “Has wearing contacts changed the surface of your eye? How thick is your cornea? What is the likelihood of your cornea taking on an irregular shape after surgery? Those are all factors that can impact the success of your surgery.

    “If you aren’t a suitable candidate for LASIK, you want your surgeon to be upfront with you and offer an alternative,” Dr. Waldrop said.

    About UT Southwestern Medical Center

    UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 18 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 2,900 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 4 million outpatient visits a year.

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  • Bausch + Lomb and Glaucoma Research Foundation Announce Launch of Screen, Protect, Cure Campaign In Recognition of Glaucoma Awareness Month

    Bausch + Lomb and Glaucoma Research Foundation Announce Launch of Screen, Protect, Cure Campaign In Recognition of Glaucoma Awareness Month

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    Newswise — Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, and Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), a national non-profit organization with the vision of curing glaucoma, today announced the U.S. launch of ‘Screen, Protect, Cure,’ a campaign designed to provide educational resources and raise awareness of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, during Glaucoma Awareness Month.1

    “We are proud to collaborate with Glaucoma Research Foundation to provide critical information about this serious eye disease and underline the negative toll it can have if left untreated,” said Christina Ackermann, president, Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals, Bausch + Lomb. “Glaucoma can affect individuals of all ages and only half of those affected are aware they have it, so it’s important that we share risk factors, how to get tested and what treatment options are available. Through ‘Screen, Protect, Cure,’ we hope to help support patients in every step of their treatment journey.”1

    During the month of January, Glaucoma Awareness Month, Bausch + Lomb and GRF will share educational resources to educate individuals who may be at risk for glaucoma and empower them to take an informed and active role in their eye health. The campaign also features a fundraising challenge that will match every dollar raised up to $20,000 in support of GRF research for a potential cure for glaucoma.

    “Glaucoma Awareness Month provides a great opportunity to share information about this sight-threatening disease and remind people there are steps they can take to help preserve their vision,” said Thomas M. Brunner, president & CEO, GRF. “Visiting an eye care provider on an annual basis and paying attention to visual function are the best things someone can do to avoid the irreversible damage from glaucoma. Although there is currently no cure, our fight to prevent visual disability is ongoing, and we are grateful for the collaboration of organizations, such as Bausch + Lomb, who share this commitment with us.”

    People interested in participating in the fundraising challenge or testing their knowledge about glaucoma can take an interactive quiz and learn more at glaucoma.org/screen-protect-cure.

    About Glaucoma Glaucoma is a complex, progressive disease that occurs when excessive eye pressure or other causes lead to damage of the optic nerve. The optic nerve is responsible for the communication of information between the eye and brain. Damage to the optic nerve can lead to severe vision loss, and in the worst case, blindness. As one of the leading causes of preventable blindness, glaucoma affects about three million people in the United States, but if caught early, it is possible to help slow and potentially prevent vision loss.1,2

    About Glaucoma Research Foundation Founded in 1978, GRF is focused on its mission to cure glaucoma through innovative research, leading the industry as a nonprofit organization. Building teams of collaborating researchers and scientists over the years, all sharing the common goal of finding a cure – GRF is committed to raising awareness, spreading the word and encouraging others to achieve this shared goal. For more information visit, https://www.glaucoma.org/, and follow Glaucoma Research Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

    About Bausch + Lomb Bausch + Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world – from the moment of birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch + Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with more than 12,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch + Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with Bausch + Lomb on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    References

    1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html. Reviewed on Nov. 8, 2022.
    2. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372839. Reviewed on Nov. 8, 2022.

    Source: BusinessWire

     

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  • Dry eye disease alters how the eye’s cornea heals itself after injury

    Dry eye disease alters how the eye’s cornea heals itself after injury

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    Newswise — People with a condition known as dry eye disease are more likely than those with healthy eyes to suffer injuries to their corneas. Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that proteins made by stem cells that regenerate the cornea may be new targets for treating and preventing such injuries.

    The study is published online Jan. 2 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

    Dry eye disease occurs when the eye can’t provide adequate lubrication with natural tears. People with the common disorder use various types of drops to replace missing natural tears and keep the eyes lubricated, but when eyes are dry, the cornea is more susceptible to injury.

    “We have drugs, but they only work well in about 10% to 15% of patients,” said senior investigator Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor in the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. “In this study involving genes that are key to eye health, we identified potential targets for treatment that appear different in dry eyes than in healthy eyes. Tens of millions of people around the world — with an estimated 15 million in the United States alone — endure eye pain and blurred vision as a result of complications and injury associated with dry eye disease, and by targeting these proteins, we may be able to more successfully treat or even prevent those injuries.”

    The researchers analyzed genes expressed by the cornea in several mouse models — not only of dry eye disease, but also of diabetes and other conditions. They found that in mice with dry eye disease, the cornea activated expression of the gene SPARC. They also found that higher levels of SPARC protein were associated with better healing.

    “We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing to identify genes important to maintaining the health of the cornea, and we believe that a few of them, particularly SPARC, may provide potential therapeutic targets for treating dry eye disease and corneal injury,” said first author Joseph B. Lin, an MD/PhD student in Apte’s lab.

    “These stem cells are important and resilient and a key reason corneal transplantation works so well,” Apte explained. “If the proteins we’ve identified don’t pan out as therapies to activate these cells in people with dry eye syndrome, we may even be able to transplant engineered limbal stem cells to prevent corneal injury in patients with dry eyes.”

    Lin JB, Shen X, Pfeifer CW, Shiau F, Santeford A, Ruzycki PA, Clark BS, Liu Q, Huang AJW, Apte RS. Dry eye disease in mice activates adaptive corneal epithelial regeneration distinct from constitutive renewal in homeostasis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Jan. 2, 2023.

    The study was funded with support from the National Eye Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Grant numbers: R01 EY019287, R01 EY027844, R01 EY024704, P30 EY02687, F30 DK130282, T32 GM07200 Additional funding provided by the Jeffrey T. Fort Innovation Fund, a Centene Corp. contract for the Washington University-Centene ARCH Personalized Medicine Initiative and Research to Prevent Blindness.

    About Washington University School of Medicine

    WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,700 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the fourth largest among U.S. medical schools, has grown 54% in the last five years, and, together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,790 faculty physicians practicing at over 60 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.

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    Washington University in St. Louis

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  • ARVO Announces Winners of 2022 Advocacy Awards

    ARVO Announces Winners of 2022 Advocacy Awards

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md. – The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) announced today the 2022 recipients of its annual Advocacy Awards:

    • Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award ― Sundaram Natarajan, MD, DSc, FRCS (Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Mumbai, India)
    • Emerging Advocate Award ― Shervonne Poleon, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.)

    The Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award recognizes ARVO members who have dedicated the core of their impressive careers to advancing the eye and vision research field through advocacy at every level.

    Currently Chief of Clinical Services at the Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Natarajan has dedicated his life to fighting vision loss. His end goal is to ensure all of India is sighted. Over the last 36 years, he has performed over 60,000 vitreous and retinal surgeries, plus assisted in the development of medicines for many ophthalmic disorders. He has also trained over 68 vitreoretinal surgeons from around the world and continuously promotes improved quality of life for early-career ophthalmologists.

    Natarajan has made great contributions to the eye and vision field through his passion for research and transforming lives. Under his leadership, the Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes (AJFTLE), now known as the Kamala Sundaram Foundation, has provided affordable eye care to more than one million people. His accolades include award of the Padma Shri ― India’s fourth-highest civilian award ― by the president of India (2013); the State Award for Meritorious Public Service by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and he was a charter inductee of the Retina Hall of Fame (2017).

    Natarajan says he is grateful for the opportunity to receive the ARVO award. “Every patient deserves care and someone to advocate for them.” He says his aim is to implement eye care in “every village in India to eliminate preventable blindness. It is my dream to eliminate diabetes-related blindness from India by 2025 and eventually the world. My accomplishments [should] serve as a reminder that we all need to be [contributors], role models, and advocates in the profession and inspirations for others.”

    The Emerging Advocate Award recognizes ARVO members who have made efforts to incorporate advocacy as part of their professional efforts early in their careers.

    Poleon is a scientific researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She currently focuses on socio-behavioral factors, such as anxiety and depression. Along with personal circumstances, these factors greatly impact every aspect of one’s life, especially health, but are hardly addressed in clinical settings. An example of this is the scarcity of emotional and social support for eye conditions.

    A native of St. Lucia, Poleon has had experience with this due to the country’s high prevalence of vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma. This disease became personal when her father was diagnosed when she was young, and she had to witness him eventually becoming blind. During that time, Poleon also saw her father struggle with depression from losing his vision. Profoundly impacted by the experience, she left St. Lucia to pursue doctoral training at UAB. She has dedicated her research and advocacy work to reducing socio-behavioral barriers to eye health and care, and is working on incorporating psychological wellness into eye care delivery.

    In 2021, Poleon won the Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award for her essay outlining her personal experience with blindness, in which she advocated “for increased resources for addressing” socio-behavioral barriers in eye care. She was able to magnify this appeal when invited to share the ideas presented in her essay at the 10th annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit. In addition, she participated in Prevent Blindness’ ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Empowerment Program ― a multidisciplinary program that provides participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to become vision and eye health advocates at all levels. Since completion, she has helped the program by recruiting participants and serving as a presenter.

    Poleon has also petitioned Congress to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vision Health Initiative Glaucoma Detection Program for Fiscal Year 2023, as well as raised awareness on Capitol Hill on the issues faced by people with low and impaired vision.  

    “This award means so much to me,” says Poleon, “I have a very personal experience with vision loss and how loneliness and social isolation compound it, and my research and work in advocacy are firmly grounded in this experience. The timing of this award could not be better as I am currently experiencing a period of change, personal growth and internal reflection. This acknowledgement is a very material reminder of the importance of this work and an inspiration to persevere. Thank you all for considering me worthy of this prestigious award.”

    For more information about the Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award and the Emerging Advocate Award, visit ARVO’s website.

     

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    The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

     

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  • For 25 Years Hartwick College Students Have Raised & Trained Guide Dogs for the Blind

    For 25 Years Hartwick College Students Have Raised & Trained Guide Dogs for the Blind

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    Newswise — Serinah Palafox, a senior at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., has hosted and trained Labrador Retriever puppies for the past two years through Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization that provides guide dogs to people with vision loss, at no cost to the person. Palafox is president of the Guiding Eyes club at Hartwick, celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year.

    Her third pup, a black Lab named Stitch, arrived on campus in August and lives with Palafox on the first floor of her residence hall. “Being able to raise a puppy who knows nothing of the world and, in what seems like the blink of an eye, is then taking on the world while providing someone with the independence they deserve, is something beyond special,” says Palafox, a public health major from Staten Island, N.Y.

    “Puppy raising is a privilege and an honor,” says Palafox, who will graduate from Hartwick in May. 

    Alexis Bickel, a junior double-majoring in history/political science, and vice-president of Hartwick’s Guiding Eyes program, says the project is focused on helping the dogs learn. But she notes that the students also typically learn a lot along the way. “Volunteering for this organization has made me realize how much effort goes into training a guide dog,” says Bickel. “And this program is really helping to educate our community…we’ve had fellow students tell us that we’ve helped to teach them things that they never would have thought of.”

    The guide puppies are predominantly yellow or black Labrador Retrievers, Palafox notes. She and her fellow students at Hartwick have mostly worked with Labs, and the breed has been the perfect match for campus life.

    Palafox became involved in the program through a biology lab partner who was involved in Hartwick’s Guiding Eyes for the Blind program with the regional coordinator who is a former employee of the college. This year the club has more than ten pups, and has 30 Hartwick students involved in the program.

    MeKalea Chambliss, the N.Y. regional manager for the Guiding Eyes puppy program, says she enjoys seeing how the program builds collaboration among these students. “Puppy raising and puppy sitting has brought together a group of college students that wouldn’t necessarily have had a lot in common and now have formed friendships and lifelong bonds,” she says. “Raising puppies isn’t easy, but these students show a huge commitment and enthusiasm in socializing, training and spreading awareness of the mission with the pups in their care.”

    Hartwick students who work with the dogs often note the program opens other doors and opportunities for new connections, as well. “One of the most important aspects of Guiding Eyes for the Blind is the networking,” says Palafox. “Through social media–especially Instagram–we are able to connect with puppy raisers from different walks of life, and we share the common goal of providing independence to a person by raising these amazing dogs.”

    The dog-raiser is the primary person raising the puppy until the time that the dog matriculates to the “In-for-Training” stage, according to Alexis Bickel. She and the other student volunteers note that, while it’s bittersweet to hand the dogs over for the next phase of their training, they take comfort and some pride in knowing they are ready and prepared for it.

    A link to a recent video of Serinah with guide-dog Stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fqinBeeQEc&ab_channel=HartwickCollege

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    Academy Communications

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  • Inverted Dancers Have More Acute Visuomotor Perception

    Inverted Dancers Have More Acute Visuomotor Perception

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    Newswise — Previous studies have determined that astronauts can judge inverted movements better than people on Earth due to the astronauts’ unique visuomotor experience with inverted movements in space.

    Now, a new study, in which University of Wyoming researchers played key lead roles, shows that people on Earth with extended visuomotor experience with inverted movements — such as vertical dancers — can overcome the inversion effect in perceiving biological motion.  

    Qin Zhu, a UW professor of kinesiology and health, was lead and senior author of a paper titled “Extended Visuomotor Experience With Inverted Movements Can Overcome the Inversions of Effect in Biological Motion Perception” that was published Oct. 20 in Scientific Reports, an online peer-reviewed, open-access journal that covers all areas of the natural sciences.

    “As indicated by the title of the article, we proved that the inversion effect in biological motion perception (BMP) can be overcome,” Zhu says. “BMP is intriguing because it is a survival skill humans and animals both share. We can read the motions produced by others in same or different species and figure out who the actor is and what is intended by the actor. So, we can better prepare our response, either to escape or engage. However, if the motion is performed upside-down, or inverted, such a capability will be greatly impaired.”

    Margaret Wilson, professor and head of the UW Department of Theatre and Dance, was second author of the paper. For the study, Wilson provided the list of vertical dance movements; facilitated motion-capture of the movements; recruited vertical dancers for the experiment; and revised the paper.

    Xiaoye Wang, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto, was another lead author of the paper. Zhu worked with Wang to conceptualize and implement the study; analyze results; and draft and revise the paper.

    Other contributors were from Shanghai University of Sport and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, who helped recruit participants in China to help increase the diversity of sample sizes of the study.

    The study was composed of 52 adult volunteers — 15 participants without any dance experience; 21 participants with an average of 7.71 years of typical dance experience; and 16 participants with 4.75 years of vertical dance experience. The vertical dancers were from UW and Europe.

    Subjects were presented 40 dance movements as point-light displays on a computer. There were 10 pairs of dance movements, with each pair including a dance movement performed on the ground and another performed in the air. In half of the test trials, the display was artificially inverted. Vertical dancers, traditional dancers and non-dancers were asked whether the display was artificially inverted or as it was.

    Only vertical dancers could identify the inversion movements performed in the air. Vertical dancers were equally capable of identifying an artificial inversion regardless of whether the dance movement was performed on the ground or in the air.

    Traditional dancers and non-dancers — who had no experience with performing inverted movement — could not distinguish the inversion on the point-light display for the inverted movements performed in the air, according to the paper. The paper’s findings suggest that visuomotor experience with inverted movements plays a more critical role in allowing observers to identify in the inverted biological motion.

    Zhu says those with experience viewing and/or performing inverted movements while suspended in the air can use that experience to perceive and understand the inverted movements.

    “Therefore, spectators who have seen vertical dance performances before will have a better understanding of inverted movements than those who have never seen such a performance,” Zhu says. “And, for those who want to learn and perform vertical dance in the future, both visual and motor training — with respect to the inverted movements — are required to improve awareness and perception of self-movements in relation to partners or spectators while performing vertical dance.”

    Zhu adds that people without any dance experience can judge the upright dance movements “pretty well” compared to trained dancers, which suggests that there are similarities between upright dance movements and movements in daily life.

    “Relating to science fiction, Spiderman should have a superior ability over others to read any inverted movements,” Zhu says.

    A follow-up study, using an eye tracker, has been performed to examine the visual search patterns of vertical dancers versus traditional dancers while each group observes the point-light displays to judge the actions.

    “Based on the research findings, a visual training program will be designed to train students who are enrolled in UW vertical dance classes,” Zhu says. 

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    University of Wyoming

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