Foundation Fighting Blindness

Researchers hope the molecule will slow the vision and hearing loss associated with USH3.

To help spread awareness during October’s Blindness Awareness Month, the Foundation Fighting Blindness invites you to share your unique experiences with blinding diseases through our social media campaign, #ShareYourVision. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, our perception of the world through our eyes is equally distinct. Let’s come together as a beacon of hope, emphasizing the resilience fou...

October 11, 2024. Dr. Kia Washington, a professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical School, talks to host Ben Shaberman about her work in whole eye transplantation. Dr. Washington is also the first Black female plastic surgeon in the country to hold the title of full professor and she discusses the challenges of ensuring diversity...

To help spread awareness during October’s Blindness Awareness Month, the Foundation Fighting Blindness invites you to share your unique experiences with blinding diseases through our social media campaign, #ShareYourVision. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, our perception of the world through our eyes is equally distinct. Let’s come together as a beacon of hope, emphasizing the resilience fou...

“Tatel’s humility and tenacity shine. The result is a stirring reflection on an extraordinary life,” Publishers Weekly

Known as 4D-150, the wet AMD gene therapy performed well in a Phase 2b clinical trial.

September 20, 2024. Dr. Zuhal Butuner, chief medical officer at Sepul Bio, talks with host Ben Shaberman about her company's two emerging RNA therapies – sepofarsen (for LCA10) and ultevursen (for USH2A) – formerly in clinical trials sponsored by ProQR. Dr. Butuner discusses how the RNA treatments work, what was learned from earlier clinical trials, and Sepul Bio's plans to move the therapies back...

The USH1B trial is the first ever for a dual AAV gene therapy delivered to the retina.

The Phase 3 trial is expected to begin in Q1 2025.

August 23, 2024. Hannah Scanga, the supervisor of genetic counseling and the ocular genetics service at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, talks to host Ben Shaberman about the basics of genetic testing and counseling, as well as deeper topics such as inheritance patterns, reasons for variations in disease severity, and variants of unknown significance. This episode of Eye on the Cure Po...

August 9, 2024. Leonide Saad, PhD, founder and chief scientific officer of the biotech Alkeus, talks to host Ben Shaberman about his company’s emerging therapy, gildeuretinol, a modified form of vitamin A which has performed well in clinical trials for people with Stargardt disease. This episode of the Eye on the Cure Podcast is sponsored by Alkeus Pharmaceuticals.

Check out this exclusive Beacon Story podcast with WROC’s Adam Chodak and professional Para triathlete Deb Chucoski as they discuss living with Stargardt disease and the amazing achievements of those who refuse to let it define them. Deb’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Hear her story and how the Paralympic Games provide a platform for athletes with vision los...

Previously, the formula was thought to only reduce risk of early age-related macular degeneration advancing to late-stage disease

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.