Retina Australia hosted a Research Update Event on 16th May 2024 at the John Curtin School for Medical Research (JCSMR) at the Australian National University in Canberra. It was also streamed live for viewers around the country who could not attend in person.
The event provided attendees with the opportunity to :
- Discover emerging treatments in geographic atrophy, a late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – by Dr Carla Abbott, Centre for Eye Research Australia and University of Melbourne
- Learn about how targeting inflammation can protect against retinal degeneration – by Dr Adrian Cioanca, Australian National University
- Hear how using the message of exercise may prevent blindness – by Nick Bariesheff, Australian National University
Emerging Treatments in Geographic Atrophy
Presenter: Dr Carla Abbott, Centre for Eye Research, University of Melbourne.
Dr Carla Abbott presented on the emerging treatments in geographic atrophy, a late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). For the first time, there are now approved treatments for geographic atrophy, also known as atrophic AMD, available in the USA, and it is expected these treatments will also be considered by regulators in other jurisdictions including Australia in the coming months. Having access to potential new treatment options means it is important for clinicians to be thinking about who these treatments are best suited for and how best to discuss these new options with patients. This talk covered the diagnosis of atrophic AMD, the potential new treatments on the horizon, the patients that these treatments are best suited for and collaborative management approaches between optometry and ophthalmology. The talk also discussed opportunities for patients to be involved in cutting-edge clinical trials for AMD.
Using RNA-silencing to tackle neuroinflammation in retinal degeneration
Presenter: Dr Adrian Ciaonca, John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU.
Dr Adrian Cioanca was awarded a Retina Australia grant in 2023 for the research project “Using RNA-silencing to tackle neuroinflammation in retinal degeneration”. Its aim was to develop a new treatment for retinal degeneration using a type of RNA called silencer RNA. Now that the project is completed, Dr Cioanca provided us with an update about his findings and project outcomes.
![](https://retinaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Adrian-Cioanca-2-e1711056343403.png)
Using the message of exercise to prevent blindness
Presenter: , Nick Bariesheff, John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU.
Nick Bariesheff, PhD student at Clear Vision Research Lab at the Australian National University, presented his PhD research talk that he made in the 3-Minute-Thesis (3MT) competition last year titled “Using the Message of Exercise to Prevent Blindness” for which he was awarded the runner up prize. In the 3MT, you must present your PhD research in under 3 minutes to a non-expert audience, with only a single static powerpoint slide to support your talk.
![](https://retinaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Proof-Nicholas-Bariesheff_D0A6880.jpg)
Vivienne Kaiser is a PhD student working at the Children’s Medical Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Anai Gonzalez-Cordero. She completed a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies at the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in 2021.
She currently works on Usher Syndrome, an inherited disease that causes deafness and blindness in children. Her work aims to develop AAV-gene therapies for this disease using stem cell organoids derived directly from patients with Usher Syndrome.
Past Webinars
![](https://retinaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/viviennepic.png)
October 2023
Vision Loss Priority Setting Partnership and an Introduction to Stem Cell & Gene Therapies
![](https://retinaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Annie-Miller.jpg)
August 2023
RNA-based gene editing and testing of a gene-independent treatment strategy
![](https://retinaaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/headshot-Penny-Allen.jpg)
May 2023