Webinar
Treating IRDs – The Case for Neuroprotective Therapies
November 13, 2024 10:00 AM US/Eastern
As patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) continue to suffer slowly but surely progression of their condition, and with causative therapies still years from reaching the market, isn't it time to look at how neuroprotective strategies and noninvasive options could offer an effective alternative in this treatment space?
Currently, the adoption of such therapies outside clinical trials is modest, with clinicians citing a lack of long-term evidence. However, while this evidence is being gathered, this webinar aims to challenge the current IRD treatment status quo and build the case for neuroprotective therapies – for example, transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) – exploring their possibilities and their potential to effectively expand the IRD treatment canon.
Webinar Learning Objectives
Neuroprotection is a viable therapeutic approach for IRDs - there are options available today.
Neuroprotective, gene-agnostic therapies, such as the OkuStim therapy / TES have a place in the treatment pathway for IRDs.
Learn about the efficient treatment pathway with the OkuStim therapy/TES therapy.
Florian Gekeler
Professor Florian Gekeler is the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology in Stuttgart, one of the largest hospitals in Germany. He is a part-time professor at Tübingen University, where he pursues his research interest in retinal disease, especially electrical stimulation and retinal implants. He is a father of two sons and tries to be outside in the mountains as often as possible.
Hendrik Scholl
Professor Hendrik Scholl is CMO of the clinical stage company Belite Bio that develops therapies for monogenic and genetically complex retinal diseases. From 2016 to 2024, he was Chief Physician of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Basel. He is one of the two founding directors of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), which he headed as Scientific Director from 2018 to 2024. His scientific and clinical career included positions at the University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the University Eye Hospital Bonn. From 2010 to 2016, he was Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA). He is a retinal specialist with two decades of experience in treating patients with inherited retinal and macular diseases.
Mariya Moosajee
Over the past 10 years, Professor Mariya Moosajee's research has focused on investigating the molecular aetiology and disease mechanisms causing congenital eye anomalies and inherited retinal disease. She also has a strong focus on developing novel molecular therapies for genetic eye disease with clinical translation. Her ultimate goal is to improve the lives of patients with genetic eye disease by directly improving molecular diagnosis, understanding the natural history of the disease through deep phenotyping and developing novel treatments to counter these blinding diseases.
M Dominik Fischer
Professor Fischer is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon specializing in retinal diseases and their treatment. He has received more than 25 awards, among them the Leonhard Klein award for the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery and the Senator-Hermann-Wacker award for scientific contributions to the field of retinal and choroidal disease. He has given more than 100 invited lectures and is author of more than 70 peer reviewed articles.
Matthew Carr
Matthew Carr's main area of specialism is strategic management and service delivery for people with disabilities, particularly for those with sight loss. He has worked with many organisations and individuals who support blind and partially sighted people internationally. He is a huge advocate for eye health and promoting services that are available to individuals with sight loss and their families.