New research is underway to develop additional treatments for both dry AMD and wet AMD.Several pharmaceutical companies are currently conducting trials of new drugs, while non-profitfunders like the FFB and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research are working together to speed the translation of treatments from animal studies to human trials.

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The Foundation Fighting Blindness supports scientists who are making incredible advances in understanding and treating age-related macular degeneration. For example in 2009, Dr. Gilbert Bernier identified a genethat helps to control the aging of cells in the eyes and brain. This discovery may one day help us prevent conditions of aging like AMD, Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Learn more about this discovery.

Until that day, research on age-related macular degeneration continues, with the support of donors like you.FFB projects and partnerships help fund pre-clinical studies that make the development of new therapies possible.Here are three ongoing projects that your donations will help to support:

Preventing the Death of Vision Cells in the Eye The FFB has also partnered with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support a team of researchers led by Dr. Catherine Tsilfidis at the Ottawa Health Research Institute. This team is exploring ways to slow or stop the death ofphotoreceptors (cells that capture light and allow us to see)in the retina of the eye.While such treatment would not correct the underlying problemthat leads to vision loss, it might preserve sight for many years. The Tsilfidis team has already shown that this approach works to protect the vision of blinded mice. This teamhopes to be ready for human clinical trialstesting this treatmentwithin five years. Learn more about therapies designed to slow cell death.

Producing New Cells to Restore Sight in Failing Eyes Dr. Gilbert Bernier at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital is receiving FFB funding to explore the use of stem cells as AMD treatment. Stem cells are very simple cells that can become other, more complex, cells to replace photoreceptors damaged by AMD. He recently patented a process that is effective fortransforming stem cells into adult eye cells. His current studies are using mice to test whether these newly created cells will be an effective treatment for AMD. He and his partners hope to begin clinical trials in the next few years.

Identifying the Factors that Cause Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth Wet AMD occurs when the blood vessels beneath the retina grow abnormally and begin leaking blood and fluid. This can cause rapid vision loss. In the past 10 years, factors within the body have been identified which promote rapid blood vessel group, and drugs which block these factors have been shown to protect the vision of people with wet AMD. The currently available drugs target one set of factors, called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factors) however other potential factors and treatments are being identified. New drugs targetting these factors might be even more effective atcontrolling wet AMD. The Foundation Fighting Blindness funds several Canadian teams working to understand and control these blood vessel growth factors included Dr. Bob Gendron and Helene Paradis in St. John's Newfoundland, and Dr. Mike Sapieha and Dr. Bruno Larrivee, both based in Montreal.

Clinical Trials of Emerging Treatments for AMD

Link:
AMD Research - The Foundation Fighting Blindness