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Clinical

NEW ORLEANS – There’s no place quite like Retina Subspecialty Day for retina specialists to hear about data released throughout the year - both positive and negative results this year, said David Brown, MD (Houston).

The initial disappointing results earlier this year from Genentech’s geographic atrophy (GA) compound lampalizumab may be offset by new data on the company’s second study.

Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, will present topline results from the phase 3 Spectri study; at this time “even a subgroup analysis” may give researchers more insight into the disorder and (maybe) provide an inkling into which mechanisms may be successful in treating GA.

The 12-month safety and efficacy outcomes from the phase 2 study on APL-2 in patients with GA will also be interesting, Dr. Brown said, because the fellow eye also had an active choroidal neovascularization.

Using combination therapy to treat various retina diseases has great potential, but more data is needed and likely will be published or presented early next year, with just a hint of what’s to come presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), said Dr. Brown, part of the 

He has observed “more excitement about surgical techniques” this year compared to years’ past, including internal limiting membrane flaps for macular holes. Of special interest for surgeons may be the sessions on widefield imaging and 3D imaging.

On Saturday, Steven D. Schwartz, MD, and Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, will debate the necessity of widefield imaging in practice, while John W. Kitchens, MD, and Julia A. Haller, MD, will debate whether now is the time to use 3D digital surgery viewing in vitrectomy.

Dr. Brown said instrumentation and surgery may take more of the limelight than they have in years’ past as pharmacotherapy studies were prevalent.

The “clinical benefit of these tools is not definitive,” he said, adding to the excitement for the debate on the topic.

And, of course, there’s the charbroiled oysters.

“If you’ve never had them, those alone are a reason to attend Academy when it’s in New Orleans,” Dr. Brown said.

Articles

Positive (and negative) data a highlight of Subspecialty Day

NEW ORLEANS – The inaugural Research Scholar Honoree Program was designed to highlight residents and fellow education, said chair Rishi P. Singh, MD (Cleveland, Ohio), and a member of the 

“Educating our residents and fellows on the clinical aspects of ophthalmology is as important as being good research mentors for them.  We do not always get to highlight their research work, provide them feedback, and congratulate them a job well done especially at major ophthalmology meetings.  The Retina Scholars Program will serve to inspire clinician scientists in our field and to encourage their scientific contributions to medicine,”Dr. Singh said.

With grant support from both Regeneron and Carl Zeiss Meditec, and publication support from 

the program will take place just before Retina Subspecialty Day at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, he said.

While the goal of most training programs is to provide the best resident and fellow education “this program highlights the insights they have developed into the conditions that they treat and possible future therapeutic approaches to ophthalmic diseases ,” Dr. Singh said.

The process of selection was rigorous - residents and fellows from across the country submit their research projects for the program.

“We received a numerous number of abstracts, only a portion of which were accepted into this program,” Dr. Singh said. With fellow judges Judy E. Kim, MD; Charles Wykoff, MD; Richard F. Spaide, MD; and David Brown, MD, the group graded the abstracts based on scientific method, conclusions, and what the contribution to the field would be. From there, the panelists chose the top group of applicants for live presentation during Thursday’s program.

“As part of the live presentation, they will provide a presentation consisting of seven minutes long, with a three minute question and answer period from the panelists,” Dr. Singh said. From those presentations, the panelist will choose the top 5 recipients. Dr. Spaide will also deliver the keynote address on why doing research beyond fellowship is a good idea.

The top 5 recipients will be presented with the Crystal Award and will have their research highlighted in individual articles throughout the year in 

 (both online and in print) and in a supplement to 

 The 16 finalists each received travel support and accommodations to allow them to present.

This year’s research topics ranged from using optical coherence tomography and other imaging devices to assess various aspects of the eye to evaluating the long-term efficacy of drug delivery devices to in vitro experiments on drug effects to timing of drug delivery to prevent endophthalmitis.

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