Fighting Blindness Annual General Meeting October 2 nd 2009
Jul 07, 2015
Fighting Blindness
Annual General Meeting
October 2nd 2009
Introduction
• Dr Patrick Corley
• Assistant Director of Research with Fighting Blindness
• Scientist with 11 years laboratory and research training & experience; not a medical doctor
• 10 years experience of research grant management.
• Disclosure: No financial or other interests related to presentation topic
Email: [email protected]
Our Vision & Mission
• OUR VISION - A world where all sight loss can be prevented or cured.
• OUR MISSION - Fighting Blindness will find treatments and cures for sight loss through world-leading research, while providing support to all those affected.
- Research -
For unmet medical needs
Today's talk• Different to national programme of talks that
Fighting Blindness given, Cork, Galway & Dublin
• Intend to role these out to other centres in the coming months, Sligo, Waterford, Midlands etc
• These are detailed talks, on particular research areas, along with medical updates.
• Today talk Brief Overview & View of the future
Research Grants we are funding
• 16 research grants at different stages of completion
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University College Galway
• Trinity College Dublin
• Waterford Institute of Technology
• Dublin Institute of Technology
• University College London / Moorfield’s Eye Hospital
So this shows we have a lot of activity / work……
Therefore What do we do
Now / Next ?
Set Goals to Achieve
A Research Strategy
How our Research Strategy Emerged
Discussion & Approval
Define our Strategic Goals
What are our selected Strategic goals?
1 To lead and drive biomedical research to prevent, treat or cure blindness
2 To increase the amount of funding for dedicated vision research in Ireland
3 To engage and collaborate with leaders in the vision medical and scientific research community
4 To steward, support and advocate for the systematic gathering of relevant patient information for research and planning.
5 To increase the numbers of Irish patients availing of the latest treatments and therapies by advocating for and supporting the development clinical trialsinfrastructure in Ireland.
6 To raise the National and International Profile of Vision Research
1) To lead and drive biomedical research to prevent, treat or cure blindness
1 Gene Therapy
2 Stem Cell Technology
3 Retina Implant Technology
4 Novel Drug Therapies
5 Population Studies
6 Clinical trials
1 Priorities
• Gene Therapy
• Targets• To carry out gene therapy clinical trials arising from our
funded research within 3 years
• Stem Cell Technology
• Targets• Develop a high profile team of leading stem cell
researchers
• Develop biological products from stem cells to help repair or stabilise damaged retina
• To increase the number of stem cell researchers working on retinal disorders in Ireland.
2) To increase the amount of funding for dedicated vision research in Ireland
• Targets• Maintain the profile of Vision research nationally and
internationally
• Capitalise and take advantage of funding initiatives aimed at ageing
• Create international programmes to up-skill and introduce skills to Ireland
• Maintain profile of blindness research distinct from neurodegenerative research
3) To engage and collaborate with leaders in the vision medical andscientific research arena
• Actions• Review, assess and support Networking activities e.g. All Ireland Retina Research
Network (AIRRN) and Irish Network of Neural Stem cell Investigators (INNSI).
• Enhance linkages with European Vision Institute, EuroVisionNet, Tubingen, Retina International, ARVO etc.
• Explore collaborations and professional linkages with sister organisations in the US and Globally
4) To steward, support and advocate the systematic gathering of relevant patient information for research and planning
• Targets• Steward, support and advocate for coordinated
patient registries and population studies of blindness in Ireland
• Support biobanking and gene banking initiatives
• Develop population research into blinding conditions
5) To increase the numbers of Irish patients availing of the latest treatments and therapies by developing infrastructure for clinical trials in Ireland
• Targets:• Support the development of European Vision
Institute centres of excellence for Clinical trials at national ophthalmology centres.
• Foster Ophthalmic Clinical Research Network
• Co-ordinate retinal patient registries in Ireland
6) To raise the National and International profile of Vision Research
Vision Research Institute
Vision Research Institute – Virtual & Actual – Inclusive Model
Key advantages of the Vision Research Institute
• To unify our research portfolio across all organizations / institutes and better co-ordinate their activities
• To accelerate the gathering and application of patient-relevant scientific knowledge by commissioning dedicated and strategic research.
• To employ our own teams of dedicated medical, scientific and paramedical researchers committed to careers in vision research, and to lead global developments in this field.
• To claim visible ownership and credit for research achievements, to attract further support for work
• To provide a visible hub for Vision Research in Ireland, just as REMEDI has done for stem cell research
• To leverage the direct funding invested by Fighting Blindness by winning significant and sustained external research funding.
Lens-ing Effect / Concentrating
Fighting Blindness
Vision Research Institute
Thank you !