Also in the News…

Genetic causes of FECD. A new eBioMedicine study has uncovered key mechanisms behind Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). The research, led by UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, used advanced optical genome mapping to identify high genetic instability in corneal endothelial cells (CECs), the primary site affected in FECD. The study also links FECD to short tandem repeat expansions in the TCF4 gene – a common risk factor for the disease across all studied populations. Link

iAMD Risks. Intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) patients who also have hypertransmission defects (hyperTDs) are at a greater risk of progression, a new Nature study reports. Retrospectively reviewing optical coherence tomography (OCT) data from 247 consecutive iAMD patients, the study found that, though patients with no hyperTDs tended to remain stable over a two-year period, patients with hyperTDs of any size demonstrated more susceptibility to the disease progressing. In light of these results, the researchers believe that hyperTDs could become an important OCT biomarker for identifying those iAMD patients who are at greater risk of progressing to either outer retinal atrophy (iRORA) or complete RORA (cRORA), or incomplete retinal pigment epithelial (RPE). Link

UK glaucoma awards. Glaucoma UK and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists have announced the winners of their joint 2024 Glaucoma UK/RCOphth Research Award. The grants – totaling £200,000 – will be awarded to Lisa Hill at the University of Birmingham for the development of a novel treatment for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and to Victoria McGilligan at Ulster University for: “A novel bispecific antibody therapy targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome for glaucoma.” Link

New CCO for CooperVision. CooperVision announced that Debbie Olive has been appointed as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Olive will oversee the company’s worldwide commercial functions, driving strategy and growth initiatives across the product portfolio. Link

Best and brightest. EyeSouth Partners, an eye care management services organization based in Atlanta, has been named as one of the 2024 “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). Link