Foundation Fighting Blindness

July 26, 2024. Karen Petrou, the new board chair at the Foundation, talks to host Ben Shaberman about her vision for the Foundation moving forward. Karen has been an active director on the Foundation’s board for nearly two decades. She is co-founder and managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, a firm providing analytical and advisory services on legislative, regulatory, and public-policy i...

VISIONS 2024 | Karen Petrou "Vision for the Future" by Foundation Fighting Blindness

Honoring John Corneille, JD, on his retirement from the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Lulie's Light Awards.

Speakers: Paul Bernstein, MD, PhD and Abigail Fahim, MD, PhD This session will discuss how dietary supplements and lifestyle choices can influence eye health (e.g. smoking, exercise).

Speakers: Dan Chung, DO, MA; Michael Voevodsky, MBA abd Jami Kern, MBA, PhD This session will discuss gene agnostic therapeutic approaches, which are applicable to multiple retinal diseases and patients at early to mid-stage of disease progression.

Speakers: Todd Durham, PhD; Kristin Macdonald and Thomas Mendel, MD, PhD This session will provide clinician and participant perspectives on inherited retinal disease clinical trials and discuss the importance of natural history studies for interventional clinical trials.

Emerging Technologies: Retinal Organoids, RNA Editing, Retinal Prosthetics, and Artificial Intelligence. Speakers: Robert Bell, PhD; Karl Wahlin, PhD; Hossein Ameri, MD, PhD and Kerry Goetz This session will discuss hot topics om retinal biology, including retinal organoids, RNA editing, retinal prosthetics, and the use of AI in ophthalmology.

Speakers: Kenji Fujita, MD and Renee Ryals, PhD This session will discuss therapies that are gene and/or mutation specific, including gene therapy and genome editing.

Speakers: Katherine Uyhazi, MD, PhD and Srinivasa Sripathi, PhD Stem cell therapies are based on the premise that we could restore vision if we could replace missing or nonfunctional functional cells, either through transplantation or by inducing existing eye cells to create more photoreceptors. These therapies are likely to be most beneficial for mid- to late-stage patients.

Speakers: Katherine Uyhazi, MD, PhD and Srinivasa Sripathi, PhD Stem cell therapies are based on the premise that we could restore vision if we could replace missing or nonfunctional functional cells, either through transplantation or by inducing existing eye cells to create more photoreceptors. These therapies are likely to be most beneficial for mid- to late-stage patients.

Speakers: Paul Bresge; Eric Daniels, MD and Ethan Rossi, PhD This session discusses optogenetics, a method of endowing non-photoreceptor cells with light-sensing capabilities. This is the most applicable to late-stage patients.

Speakers: Paul Bresge; Eric Daniels, MD and Ethan Rossi, PhD This session discusses optogenetics, a method of endowing non-photoreceptor cells with light-sensing capabilities. This is the most applicable to late-stage patients.

Science Plenary Session Speakers: Todd Durham, PhD; Kristi Lee, MS, CGC and Ramiro Maldonado, MD This session will discuss the importance of genetic testing and give an overview of the Foundation's My Retina Tracker® Registry.

Speakers: Todd Durham, PhD; Kristin Macdonald and Thomas Mendel, MD, PhD This session will focus on empowering patients to decide if participation in a clinical trial is right for them and discuss how natural history studies pave the way for interventional clinical trials.

Speaker: James Ashworth This session will discuss practical tips and strategies for traveling with vision loss on Southwest Airlines, information such as accessible transportation options, navigating airports, finding accessible accommodations, and using assistive technology. The session aims to empower participants with the knowledge and confidence to explore air travel regardless of their level...

Speakers: Christy Vanek and Janni Lehrer-Stein Join us for a fireside chat conversation on advocacy across the personal, workplace, and legislative levels. We will explore how advocacy relates to personal identity, what it means to act as an advocate, and personal strategies for making sustainable advocacy choices.

Foundation Board Chair David Brint sits down with Judge David Tatel to discuss vision loss, his career and latest book.

Speakers: Leslie Hoskins and Alyssa Otis Learn what to expect when applying for a guide dog, including review of the application materials and potential outcomes. Additionally, an in-depth discussion on the skills required to be approved for a guide dog from the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) standards.

Speaker: Francisco Richardson, OD Learn about devices, technologies, and low vision adaptations for work, home and education.

Speakers: David Corey, PhD and Benjamin Bakall, MD, PhD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for Usher Syndrome.

Speakers: Robert Hyde, MD, PhD and Miranda Scalabrino, PhD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Speakers: Bikash Pattnaik, PhD and Ramiro Maldonado, MD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA).

Stargardt Disease and Age Related Macular Degeneration. Speakers: Thomas Wubben, MD, PhD; Jason Miller, MD, PhD and Esther Biswas-Fiss, PhD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration.

Speakers: Nieraj Jain, MD and Andrew Goldberg, PhD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for specific retinal diseases.

Speaker: Abigail Fahim, MD, PhD This session will feature clinicans and researchers discussing recent updates for other retinal diseases, including choroideremia and X-linked retinoschisis.