1) Dr. Patrick Corley gave a presentation on Fighting Blindness' research strategy and vision for the future at their Annual General Meeting. 2) Fighting Blindness funds research grants at several Irish universities and institutions aimed at preventing or curing blindness. Their strategic goals include advancing gene therapy, stem cell technology, and retinal implant research. 3) One of their key initiatives is establishing a Vision Research Institute to unite their research portfolio, accelerate patient-focused research, and raise the profile of vision research in Ireland. The Institute would employ dedicated researchers and help attract additional funding.

1. Fighting Blindness
Annual General Meeting
October 2nd 2009

2. 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: patrick.corley@fightingblindness.ie

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. So this shows we have a lot
of activity / work……
Therefore What do we do
Now / Next ?
Set Goals to Achieve

7. A Research Strategy

8. How our Research Strategy Emerged
Discussion & Approval
Define our Strategic Goals

9. 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 trials
infrastructure in Ireland.
6 To raise the National and International Profile of Vision Research

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 3) To engage and collaborate with leaders in the vision medical and
scientific 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 6) To raise the National and International profile of Vision Research
Vision Research Institute

17. Vision Research Institute – Virtual & Actual – Inclusive Model

18. 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.

19. Lens-ing Effect / Concentrating
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20. Thank you !