THE ACHIEVER Retina Australia Victoria SPRING EDITION - SEPTEMBER 2009 ROSS HOUSE, 4TH FLOOR 247 - 251 FLINDERS LANE MELBOURNE VIC 3000 PHONE (03)9650 5088 FAX (03) 9639 0979 Email: support@retinavic.org.au Web site: www.retinavic.org.au INSIDE FROM THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL CONGRESS FEATURES: Blind Woman Motorcycling Around the World RESEARCH UPDATE: Global Trial on Bionic Eye Hope for Blindness Cure with Laser Breakthrough Breakthrough in Use of Stem Cells for Retinal Treatment Gene Therapy Delivers Bonus Results More Good Fat, Less Bad, Reduces AMD Risk Results from Neurotech’s NT501 Phase 2 RP Studies QUESTION TIME VISION AUSTRALIA FURTHER EDUCATION BURSARIES 2010 VISION AUSTRALIA FORUM LAST WORD SUPER SPRING NEWS * Upcoming Events * Inspirational Blind Motorcyclist Feature * Research Update, including: > Laser Treatment > Stem Cell Treatment > Gene Therapy Beginning of article FROM THE PRESIDENT I am very pleased to announce that Retina Australia (Vic) Inc received a grant of $5000 from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in their recent project;“20 Days of Giving”. This grant was awarded in recognition of the work that this organisation does for the community. We will utilise these additional funds to further support members and to increase community awareness of inherited retinal diseases and their effect on sufferers of such eye conditions. Some of you may have seen the Sixty Minutes program on Sunday 5 July, in which a previous “Big Brother” winner, Reggie Sorensen was counselled for her autosomal recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa condition. The DNA collection and analysis for Reggie was carried out in Perth by members of the IRDR & DNA team who are conducting the research study, which many of us are a part of. If you have not sent off your papers to register for this project, there is still time to do this. While the program was not entirely accurate and did not give credit to the research team at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital or to our national president who spent considerable time briefing the Sixty Minutes team, Channel 9 provided $6000 for the development of a new chip to aid in the analysis of DNA. As well, considerable information is now available on the 60 Minutes website which is very popular and a great community resource. Vision Australia has very generously agreed to auspice up to four three-monthly Telelinks for our members per year. Participants in the trial Telelink spoke very positively about this method of meeting people and the opportunity to connect with others who shared the same experiences. The new Telelinks will be themed around clear objectives of self-help, or topics which discuss how Inherited Retinal Diseases affect lifestyles. The first theme will be “Seniors” and we would like up to ten “Seniors” who are interested in joining a Telelink discussion to contact Lin at the office who will compile a list of potential participants and then notify you the details of the phone-link. End of article Beginning of article Diary Dates – Please come and join us at all events if you can Saturday 3 October – Come and help celebrate this significant occasion. Annual General Meeting & 30th Anniversary Celebration A reminder to RSVP by Thursday 24 September Weekend of 23rd-25th October – Great opportunity to hear latest research news Retina Australia National Congress in Brisbane – Register by 11 September Sunday 22 November – No frills Car Cruise and Display at Hastings Foreshore Cars arrive from 11.30am, display & picnic from 12.30pm. Entry @ Gold coin donation This event is open to all car enthusiasts, not just owners of classic or exotic cars. to find out more, and keep up to date with the event visit www.retinavic.org.au and www.carsoftheworld.com.au Thursday 10 December – If you are lucky you can take home your Raffle Prize Christmas Luncheon and 30th Anniversary Raffle Draw Spaghetti Tree Restaurant – 59 Bourke Street Melbourne RSVP for lunch and return your raffle tickets by Thursday 3 December End of article Beginning of article Retina Australia National Congress Brisbane 23rd – 25th October 2009 The Retina Australia National Congress is drawing closer. There are only two months until the Congress is held in Brisbane. This is my last opportunity to remind you about our Congress through your state’s newsletter. Our planning is well advanced, and we have distributed the Congress program and registration forms to Retina Australia members in each state.   The program of speakers (researchers) is wide-ranging, and our opportunity to hear first-hand from the leaders of the Inherited Retinal Disease Register and DNA Bank is an opportunity which should not be missed.   I am personally keen to hear from out keynote speaker Professor Elizabeth Racokzy. She emailed one of our committee members recently and said, “after taking my gene therapy research targeting AMD to Human trials I am back to focus on Retinitis Pigmentosa again”. She also spoke about the future, saying, “I am learning new computational techniques that can assist us to design new methods that might offer general treatment strategies for RP. It is a very exciting new direction!”   I urge you to register for the Congress very soon. I have forwarded Rose’s and my own registration and booked our room at Royal on the Park. We were two of the early registrations, but were not quick enough to be first.   You will have seen on the registration form that we are seeking registrations by September 11. I hope that you will register by then, but please be assured that we will accept late registrations after that date.   If you intend to book a room at the hotel, please keep in mind that the special rate offered to Congress participants will only stand until the last week of August. After that you may have to pay the full cost for your room.   At the time of writing our Queensland office has received almost 40 registrations. I predict that we will have more than 150 participants at the Congress. Join in, register soon, visit Brisbane in spring. I look forward to meeting you there.   Grant Fraser - Chair, Congress Committee End of article Beginning of article The following story is somewhat dated, having appeared in the media back in February. However, it has been included here for the interest of members – Ed. Blind Woman Motorcycling Around the World THE world's first blind woman to motorcycle her way around the globe has arrived in Perth. Cathy Birchall, steered by partner Bernard Smith, started her journey on August 1 last year in Ireland to raise funds and awareness for the blind. ``I met Bernard about three-and-a-half years ago and his lifelong mission has always been to go around the world on a bike,'' Ms Birchall said. ``I've always been very adventurous and will give anything a go. We thought if we're going to do it then why not do more with the journey. The main purpose for me was to raise awareness of visual impairments throughout the different countries and show people what can be done.'' Riding through countries like Switzerland, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Turkey, Pakistan and India, Australia was the eighteenth border crossed. ``There was a vision impaired ladies group we met in India and they were really interested in Bernard and myself because over there if you're visually impaired you're not going to have a partner unfortunately,'' Ms Birchall said. ``One particular lady in her thirties had been married since the age of 17 and she developed a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which is what I have, and as soon as that became apparent her husband said she was of no use to him and he divorced her. So people are seeing Bernard and myself doing something quite extraordinary. Our motto is anything can be done - no barriers.'' The duo plan to ride more than 40,000 km, having already covered 16,000 kms. Ms Birchall's ride will raise money for UK's Action for Blind People organisation - where she works on the helpline - The Royal National Institute of the Blind and Guide Dogs. Next on the trip calendar is Adelaide and Sydney before flying across to South America and riding up to the USA and Canada before returning back to work on August 1. Source: Beth River, Sunday Times, Perth, 14 February 2009. Picture: Theo Fakos End of article Beginning of article Research Update Blind Patients in Manchester Join Global Trial of 'Bionic Eye' Eye surgeons at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital have implanted an intraocular electronic retinal prosthesis or 'bionic eye' in two Manchester patients who became blind due to advanced retinitis pigmentosa – an inherited and degenerative disease of the retina. The surgery was carried out by Mr Paulo E Stanga, a consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon and Reader in Ophthalmology at The University of Manchester and Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, and his team. It is part of a pioneering international trial of the artificial retina, which is intended to help some blind people regain a degree of vision. The Manchester patients are two of only 25 people worldwide to participate in the trial to date. Using ArgusTM II technology, developed by Second Sight® Medical Products, Inc. (Sylmar, CA, USA) the implant aims to restore a basic level of useful vision, in the form of spots of light and shades of light and dark, to people with very severe retinitis pigmentosa. The technology consists of a tiny camera and transmitter mounted in a pair of glasses. This camera transmits a wireless signal via a small processing device to an ultra-thin electronic receiver, an electrode panel that is implanted in the eye and attached to the retina. The electrodes are intended to stimulate the remaining retinal nerves, allowing a signal to be passed along the optic nerve to the brain, which perceives patterns of light and dark spots corresponding to which electrodes are stimulated. “We are very encouraged by the trial’s results so far,” says principal investigator Mr Stanga. “The 'bionic eye' operations went exactly according to plan and both patients are doing well, although it will be several months before the functional outcome is fully known. We hope the implant will improve each patient’s orientation and mobility, spatial localisation, and motion detection, perhaps giving these patients navigational vision in familiar and unfamiliar environments. “The trial remains inspiring in terms of presenting a very real and tangible step forward in treating people with total vision loss. These are early days and continued testing will be crucial in determining the success of the new technology. We are delighted to be able to offer participation in this pioneering international trial in the North of England.” Extensive testing is just beginning on the two Manchester patients as the implant and video camera link are turned on to try and optimise retinal stimulation. Manchester Royal Eye Hospital is also recruiting new subjects to the trial. To be eligible, patients must meet the following inclusion criteria: * Be aged 18 years or older at the date of enrolment. * Have a confirmed history of retinitis pigmentosa. * Have a visual acuity of logMAR 2.3 or worse in both eyes. * Have a functional optic nerve. * Have a memory of former useful form vision in the worse-seeing eye. * Understand and accept the obligation to attend all scheduled follow-up visits. About the trial * The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital trial is part of an international phase I clinical study, comprising feasibility studies in the United States, Europe and Mexico. Preliminary results were presented in October 2008 at the American Society of Retinal Specialists (ASRS) annual meeting in Hawaii. * A total of 25 people worldwide have been involved so far, two of whom received their treatment at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, part of the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Mr Stanga's team includes clinical staff from the Trust and researchers from The University of Manchester and National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. * The Manchester Royal Eye Hospital trial is open only to subjects with complete vision loss from advanced retinitis pigmentosa and who meet the necessary criteria. Source: Media Release, Central Manchester University Hospitals, 15 June 2009. End of article Beginning of article One of Britain's leading eye experts has developed a technique to reverse the disabling effects of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which leaves many older people unable to read, drive or live independently, and eventually robs them of sight in one or both eyes. Professor John Marshall has developed a way of "cleaning" eyes which, due to the ageing process, have accumulated tiny particles of debris which start to cloud their sight. His pioneering technique uses a painless "short pulse" laser to solve the otherwise intractable problem of how to help the eye's waste disposal system do its job after it has been weakened by age. Marshall, a senior ophthalmologist at King's College London, said he hopes this "retinal regeneration therapy" could prevent and reverse the onset of AMD. The technique works by rejuvenating a thin membrane behind the retina, called Bruch's membrane. Over time this membrane becomes so "clogged" with the by-product of cell renewal that vital nutrients can no longer cross from the bloodstream into the retina and excess material becomes trapped, unable to pass in the other direction. This leads to the death of retinal cells and, in time, to AMD and eventual blindness. Marshall's technique promises to prevent and even reverse the process, allowing the eye to return to something like its youthful, uncluttered state. In a clinical trial involving more than 100 diabetics, Marshall found that focusing a laser beam on one part of the retina helps stimulate the release of enzymes, which then set about cleaning up the waste material. Participants reported this led to a marked improvement in their sight. Marshall now plans to conduct a wider trial among those suffering the early stages of AMD. In most cases the "clogging" begins when people reach their mid-40s, but does not always lead to significant sight loss. Some are more at risk, because of a number of factors in addition to their age. These include genetics - such as a family history of AMD. Women are more likely to suffer, and environmental factors can play a part, with smokers at greater risk. The treatment can be carried out in just ten to 15 minutes by any ophthalmologist. While it does not cure sight loss, its creators say it could prevent a generation from having to put up with declining vision in old age. People with a family history of the disease could have pre-emptive treatment in their thirties. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in those aged over 60 in the western world. Initially it causes blurred or distorted central vision, but worsens over time leaving sufferers unable to do everyday tasks. About a quarter of all over-60s in the UK suffer some loss of vision as a result of the condition. Eye specialists say Marshall's discovery could mark a breakthrough in tackling the condition. There is currently no effective treatment for "dry" AMD - the less serious form of the disease. The drugs Lucentis and Avastin are used to treat the more disabling and aggressive "wet" version, but these usually do little more than stabilise the condition. Marshall's use of laser technology to restore an ailing eye could therefore open up a whole new method of treatment. Conventional lasers have been used previously, but they have damaged the eye's light-sensitive cells in the process. Marshall said: "The laser I've used is a totally new soft-pulse laser which doesn't cause any damage to any of the nearby tissues, unlike conventional lasers. All it does is stimulate the required chemical reaction. And it treats both 'dry' AMD and the effects of ageing." Marshall's next clinical trial of the technique on up to 200 people will be with patients who are already being treated for AMD in one eye. He hopes that it will prove that treating the patient's other eye will delay the onset of AMD by up to seven years. He wants to see if the laser prevents the good eye losing its sight. 'If you can delay the onset by three, four, six, seven or ten years, it's proof of the principle,' he said. If further trials are successful, it could open many possibilities. "In the short term it could benefit anybody with a family history or with diagnostic signs that they are at high risk of AMD," Marshall said. "In the longer term it could be that we all decide to have our retinas cleaned so that we don't develop these problems later in life." Eyesight specialists say Marshall's research could be of huge importance. Tom Pey of Guide Dogs for the Blind, which funded the work, said: "This is potentially a huge breakthrough for millions of people across the world." Medical charities welcomed the breakthrough but warned that it might not be available to the public for several years. The Macular Disease Society said: 'If this works, then it's very exciting. However, it will be years before this could be ready for use.' Sources: Denis Campbell, The Observer, UK, 5 July 2009. David Derbyshire, Mail Online, UK, 6 July 2009. End of article Beginning of article REMINDER: 2009/10 Membership fees are now overdue. Thank you to all members who have paid their membership. We would appreciate prompt payment from all members who have overlooked this so that we can continue to support all members. End of article Beginning of article Stemedica Discovers Signifiecant Breakthrough in the Use of Stem Cells and Stem Cell Factors for the Treatment of Retinal Degeneration Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego which manufactures and develops clinical grade allogeneic adult stem cell technology, has discovered a significant breakthrough in the use of human stem cells and stem cell factors for the potential treatment of degenerations of the retina and retinal pigmented epithelium. Retinal degenerations include diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, which are hereditary conditions in which abnormalities of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) within the eye lead to progressive vision loss. According to one of the study's Principle Investigators, Dr. Paul Tornambe, "The results from this pre-clinical experiment are exciting. It allows researchers and clinicians to push the envelope in the quest to use stem cells to modulate diseases like Retinitis Pigmentosa." There is currently no medical treatment that can completely cure Retinitis Pigmentosa - an eye disease that affects approximately 1,500,000 people on a worldwide basis each year. An international consortium of prominent researchers and clinicians were assembled by Stemedica to fully explore the application of its proprietary lines of stem cells and stem cell factors for treatment of Retinal Degeneration in a pre-clinical environment. Their discoveries provide great promise for treating this disease at a clinical level. "We knew the team assembled had the experience and expertise to fully explore how stem cells and stem cell factors might be applied in the possible treatment of Retinal Degeneration that may apply to Retinitis Pigmentosa in the future", said Nikolai Tankovich, MD, PhD, Stemedica's President and Chief Medical Officer. "While there have been similar results achieved with our stem cells and factors in the experimental treatment of neurological diseases, we did not expect that these efforts would provide the kind of breakthrough results that have been achieved in our ophthalmological study." The study team was comprised of Edwin Boldrey, MD, a Retina and Vitreous Specialist from Northern California and Charter Member of American Society of Retina Specialists and by Paul Tornambe, MD, of Retinal Consultants in San Diego, California. Dr. Tornambe is a past President of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Other members of the study team included Khristo Takhchidi, MD, PhD; Director General, Natalia Gavrilova, MD, PhD, Professor; and, Olga Komova, MD from the famous Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Institute in Moscow, Russia. Supporting the principle investigators were Alexander Revischin, PhD, and Irina Saburina, MD, PhD from the Russian Academy of Sciences and by Alexei Lukashev, PhD, of Stemedica's Research Lab in San Diego, California. Dr. Tornambe identified several observations that resulted from the group's efforts, "There were two very encouraging findings: RPE stem cells injected into the suprachoroidal space prevented the animal's RPE cell's degeneration as well as preventing degeneration of the overlying photoreceptors proven by very objective ERG testing and histopathology. Secondarily, and even more interesting, is that the fellow contra lateral eye also showed a beneficial effect. This crossover effect suggest this treatment stimulated upregulation of other factors, yet unknown, which decreased the rate of degeneration in the fellow eye. Degeneration of RPE cells occur in many other human retinal diseases such as age related macular degeneration. It is very important to temper initial enthusiasm with the test of time, however, this study strongly suggests, at least in this animal model, that certain kinds of stem cells and factors can modify a disease process." The 18 month pre-clinical study was implemented at the Fyodorov Eye Institute using Stemedica's proprietary multiple cell technology. Three different types of human stem cells (hSC) were used in the study - retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), neural (NSC) and cilliary body (CB) - all obtained from human donor tissue. Various cells were injected into rats with hereditary pigmented degradation of retina. One eye of each participating rat served the treatment eye and the other eye served as the control eye. Healthy non-dystrophic and non-treated (normally dystrophic) animals were also used as independent control groups. Electroretinography (ERG) and immunohistochemical (ICH) analysis was performed on both eyes. "What is very impressive is the immune privileged feature of all three kinds of human stem cells (RPE, CB, NSC) in xenotransplantation. This immune privilege amplifies the significant promise of allogeneic donor stem cells in the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases", stated Dr. Edwin Boldrey. The research team compared the efficacy of each of the three cell types. A summary of the results yielded the following observations and discoveries: 1. The study showed a statistically significant gain (77%) in the treated eye (with RPE cells) over the control eye of the same animal. However, both the treated eye and the control eye were approximately 10 times more active (response to ERG) compared to non-treated (normally dystrophic) control animal. 2. The RPE and NSC cells were effective in preserving the thickness of the outer nuclei layer of the retina. 3. A contra lateral effect was observed between the test and control eyes. As a result, both eyes exhibited significant improvement. It is believed that the positive outcome in the control eye was achieved through the systemic release of cytokines; growth and other important factors; peptides; and, molecules from stem cells transplanted into the treated eye. This phenomenon is referred to by Stemedica as "The Factor Release Effect" and branded by the company as StemedicaFRE™. These factors, circulating in the blood flow, effect and mobilize endogenous stem cells. Stemedica believes improvement in the contra lateral eye is a 'Factor Release Effect' rather than a Sympathetic Ophthalmic effect which is very rare. Stemedica discovered the presence of these endogenous RPE stem cells in adult retinas several years ago. This original research demonstrated that these RPE stem cells acquired embryonic markers (Nanog and Oct-4) in adult humans. "Stemedica has filed a number of patent applications to secure the rights for these discoveries - the use of our stem cells and their factors in the treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and conditions. Based upon the results from the work of this luminary group, we have focused our legal protection and Intellectual Property efforts to include the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa and ways to prevent its development and progression", said Timothy Brown, MS, JD, Director of Stemedica's Intellectual Property Department. The results from the study will be presented at the Retina Congress in New York, September 30, 2009. The Retina Congress is a worldwide gathering of the most established and accomplished retina doctors in the world. The Congress is sponsored by the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Retina Society and the Macular Society and represents over 2,000 retina and eye specialists from 54 countries. "The discovery of the effect of stem cell factors supports our other clinical evidence substantiating how stem cells and stem cell factors can be isolated and used for the treatment of complex medical conditions. Clinical studies in countries outside of the United States have already demonstrated the efficacy of Stemedica's stem cells and their factors in the experimental study treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other conditions. Based upon this breakthrough discovery and validation of our previous evidence, Stemedica has begun negotiations with a select number of potential strategic partners. Our goal is to rapidly advance our findings into a comprehensive clinical application", said Maynard A. Howe, Vice Chairman of Stemedica. Source: PRWeb, 1 July 2009. End of article Beginning of article Gene Therapy Delivers Bonus Results Partial sections of vision were recently restored to a blind woman's retina through the use of gene therapy. Scientists at the University of Florida College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania began safety testing of gene therapy two years ago. Three patients, born with Leber congenital amaurosis type 2 had health genes implanted in their retinas and reported significant improvements, in particular their sensitivity to light. In the study led by Samuel G. Jacobson, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania, and supported by the National Eye Institute, researchers used an apparently harmless virus that already exists in most people to deliver RPE65 to a small area of the retina. However, in an unexpected finding, scientists writing in the New England Journal of Medicine say the treated parts of the retinas may have acquired enough image-processing strength to rival the retina's normal centre for visual perception, called the fovea, for the brain's attention. The discovery suggests that even in adults with mature visual circuitry, the brain can find new ways to process optical information, say researchers with the UF Powell Gene Therapy Center and the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. "When one patient came back for her 12-month visit, she said she could read the digital clock in her parents' car with her treated eye — something she was never able to do before," said William W. Hauswirth, PhD., a professor in the ophthalmology department at the UF College of Medicine. "That prompted us to measure where her gaze was fixed while looking at a variety of dim targets. This showed that she now has two preferred centres of vision rather than one, depending on the brightness of the object." The new region is more sensitive to light, but it is not as precise as the fovea for making bright images sharp. "Her brain tells her to use the best part of retina she can, depending on the situation, so she automatically shifts back and forth between the usual region and the region we supplied to her," said Hauswirth, who is associated with the Powell Gene Therapy Centre and the UF Genetics Institute. In the current New England Journal of Medicine report, scientists say vision in volunteers' treated eyes remains slightly improved in dim lighting conditions. But the "excursions of fixation" from the usual focal point of the retina to the treated area nearby in one of the patients was a welcome surprise. "This finding required her to tell us she was seeing these objects," Hauswirth said. "What's truly astounding is the brain even in an adult is still adaptable enough to learn to use these regions of the retina." The viral vectors used to deliver the gene therapy were manufactured by the Powell Gene Therapy Center, directed by Barry J. Byrne, MD, PhD, a professor of molecular genetics and the principal investigator for the trial at UF. "What's truly been remarkable so far, beyond the gene therapy to the retina, is how well the visual parts of the brain are adapting to the treated eye," said John G. Flannery, PhD., a professor of vision science, and neurobiology at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, who did not participate in the research. "You could almost say the patients' brains are getting better at paying attention to the gene-therapy treated area, because it is functioning at a higher level." Source: Ophthalmology Times Europe, 19 August 2009. End of article Beginning of article More good fat, less bad, reduces AMD risk Two reports published in the May, 2009 issue of the American Medical Association journal Archives of Ophthalmology reveal a protective effect for omega-3 fatty acids, fish, nuts and olive oil, and an adverse effect for trans fatty acids, on the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older individuals. In the first study, Jennifer S.L. Tan, MBBS, BE at the University of Sydney, Australia and her colleagues evaluated data from 2,454 participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study of men and women aged 49 and older. Those who consumed one serving of fish per week were shown to have a 31 percent lower adjusted risk of developing early AMD compared with those who consumed less. In the second article, Elaine W. T. Chong, MD, PhD, of the Centre for Eye Research Australia and her associates evaluated data from 6,734 men and women aged 58 to 69 who participated in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Dietary questionnaires completed between 1990 and 1994 were analysed for the intake of various foods and individual fatty acids. Follow up examinations conducted between 2003 and 2006 detected 2,872 cases of early age-related macular degeneration and 88 cases of late disease. A high intake of trans-unsaturated fats was associated with a significant increase in late macular degeneration, with those whose intake was categorized as among the top 25 percent of participants having a 76 percent greater risk than those whose intake was among the lowest fourth. Olive oil emerged as protective against late disease. When those who reported consuming at least 100 millilitres per week olive oil were compared with those who consumed less than 1 millilitre per week, they were found to have a 52 percent lower risk of late AMD. For early AMD, those whose omega-3 fatty acid intake was among the top 25 percent had a 15 percent lower risk compared with those whose intake was among the lowest quarter. Trans fatty acids increase cholesterol levels and inflammation, both of which affect the eyes' blood vessels, while omega-3 fatty acids may help protect the retina. Although the main fats contained in olive oil were not associated with macular degeneration risk, the oil contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that could be protective. "A diet low in trans-unsaturated fat and rich in omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil may reduce the risk of AMD," the authors conclude. Ref:www.lef.org/newsletter/2009/0512_Fat-and-Age-Related-Macular-Degeneration-Risk.htm?source=eNewsLetter2009Wk21-1&key=Article&l=0 End of article Beginning of article Results from Nuerotech’s NT-501 Phase 2 RP Studies Demonstrate Consistent Biological Effect on Photoreceptors Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the Company's product candidate, NT-501, demonstrated a strong biologic effect in two Phase 2 clinical trials for retinitis pigmentosa (RP). RP is a slowly developing condition that causes the progressive degeneration of rod & cone photoreceptor cells in the retina that over time diminishes night and peripheral vision and eventually leads to blindness. RP is an orphan-designated indication for which there are currently no approved treatments. In both studies, there was a statistically significant (p< 0.001 for the high dose group in each study), dose-dependent increase in retinal thickness involving photoreceptor layers as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). This statistically-significant effect has also been observed in a recently completed Phase 2 NT-501 study in patients with geographic atrophy associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the results of which were reported by Neurotech on March 26, 2009. This effect, which is believed by the Company to be neuroprotective, has also been demonstrated in animals. NT-501 is an intraocular implant that consists of human cells that have been genetically modified to secrete ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). CNTF, a growth factor capable of rescuing and protecting dying photoreceptors, is delivered directly to the back of the eye in a controlled, continuous basis by means of the Company's proprietary Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) platform. Delivery via ECT bypasses the blood-retinal barrier and overcomes a major obstacle in the treatment of retinal disease. The two Phase 2 studies were multi-centred, randomised, double-masked, sham-controlled dose ranging studies designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NT-501 in patients with RP. The first trial studied 65 patients with later stage RP (defined as patients diagnosed with RP and vision between 20/63 and 20/320). The second trial studied 67 patients with earlier stage RP (defined as patients diagnosed with RP and vision better than 20/63). In both studies each patient received either a high or low dose NT-501 implant in one eye and a sham treatment in the fellow control eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual field sensitivity (VFS) were evaluated as primary endpoints for patients in the later stage and earlier stage RP studies, respectively. At 12 months no trend in visual benefit was observed in either study for these functions, possibly due to the slow progression of the disease. RP patients in general have a gradual progression of vision loss, often over many years or decades. These patients will continue to be monitored for an additional 6 to 18 months per protocol. There were no NT-501 associated serious adverse events reported and both NT-501 and the surgical procedure were well-tolerated. "CNTF has the potential to help people with retinitis pigmentosa and other photoreceptor degenerations," said Dr. Paul Sieving, Director of the National Eye Institute and Principal Investigator of Neurotech's Phase 1 study of NT-501 in RP. "These studies are important as they present an opportunity to move the field forward." "We are hopeful that the biological changes observed in RP patients treated with NT-501 will lead to a benefit in visual function," stated Dr. David Birch, Director of the Retina Foundation of the Southwest and lead investigator for the RP studies. "However, the progression of this disease is slow and we have not seen a visual benefit in the treated eye relative to the control eye over this relatively short 12-month time period," added Dr. Birch. "We are encouraged with the consistent biological effects of CNTF observed in these two Phase 2 RP studies," commented Ted Danse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neurotech. "We will continue to follow the patients in these studies and plan to discuss the results and the clinical development path with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)," added Mr. Danse. "We are pleased that the NT-501 treatment has shown a positive biological effect on the retina in these two clinical trials, and we are hopeful that vision preservation will be observed when all information is available at the conclusion of the clinical trials," stated Stephen Rose, PhD, Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. "We are very proud of our long-term support for NT-501 and the innovative ECT technology." Explants of 25 NT-501 devices from these two studies were prospectively performed between 12 and 24 months following implantation. All have been found to have uniformly healthy, viable cells that continue to produce therapeutic levels of CNTF. This is consistent with data from multiple trials of NT-501 in which, to date, 40 devices have been explanted between 6 and 24 months following implantation and all devices have contained healthy, viable CNTF-producing cells. "We are very excited about the ability of our ECT platform to deliver a variety of therapeutic factors in a consistent, long-term and well-controlled manner," said Danse. "In addition to these RP studies, we are actively developing NT-501 for geographic atrophy associated with dry AMD, and plan to initiate a Phase 1 study for our second product candidate, NT-503, in wet AMD in the second half of this year. NT-503 inhibits a well-validated target in wet AMD, VEGF, and has the potential to provide a one-time administration for a 12 to 18 month period versus the current wet AMD treatment regimen that requires monthly injections with very close patient monitoring," concluded Danse. Source: Lincoln, RI, PRNewswire, 28 May 2009. End of article Beginning of article Question Time with Kath Halbish In this edition, long-time member and dedicated volunteer, Kath Halbish, has kindly agreed to volunteer for Question Time. Please contact Rick through the office to volunteer your answers for future editions. 1. What’s your earliest memory? Starting school. 2. What’s your idea of a good time? Having a meal with family and friends. 3. What’s your ideal holiday destination? New Zealand. 4. Who inspires you? Totally blind people getting on with life. 5. What makes you angry? People who push in when you are waiting to be served. 6. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Travel overseas with a person who did not understand vision impairment. 7. What’s the best thing you’ve ever done? Have three children and now five grandchildren. 8. What do you like about Retina Australia (Vic)? It gives people the opportunity to share information. Also keeps members updated. 9. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? To get everyone to respect each other. 10. What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt about life? Don’t cross your bridge until you get to it. End of article Beginning of article Vision Australia’s Further Education Bursaries 2010 Each year Vision Australia awards financial bursaries to tertiary students who are blind or have low vision for the purchase of adaptive technology such as CCTVs, laptops, screen reading and magnification software. Vision Australia's Further Education Bursaries aims to assist clients who would not otherwise be able to afford adaptive technology, thus increasing their ability to participate in further education. Since 1996, 169 bursaries have been awarded by Vision Australia to students studying a broad range of disciplines - from Arts and Music to IT and Business. Who is eligible? To be eligible, applicants need to: * Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, the Northern Territory or Tasmania. * Be (or become) a client of Vision Australia * Demonstrate the need for financial assistance to purchase adaptive technology * Be applying for, or enrolled in, a tertiary course graded Certificate IV or above. * Be available to attend a presentation ceremony in May. How to apply? To apply for a bursary, applicants need to: * Complete an application form - download available from August at www.visionaustralia.org/bursary * Have an adaptive technology assessment with a Vision Australia consultant * Provide some documentary evidence (outlined on the application form). Applications are treated in the strictest confidence. Important dates Applications open in August and close at the end of October. Recipients are selected in December, equipment is purchased and delivered after proof of enrolment has been provided (around March) and the Bursaries are presented at ceremonies in May. For more information contact: Max Bini, Tertiary Education Consultant, Phone: 1300 84 74 66 Email: max.bini@visionaustralia.org Website: www.visionaustralia.org End of article Beginning of article Retinal Eye Disease The Future As We See It Friday 11th September 10am – 12pm at Vision Australia 79 High St Belmont, Geelong Guest Speakers: Dr Michelle Ward, Melbourne University (research into the field of retinal eye disease) Leighton Boyd, President of Retina Australia (Vic) (IRDR - Inherited Retinal Disease Register) Adaptive technology will be on display including magnifiers and CCTVs. Morning tea will be provided. RSVP to Vision Australia on Ph: 03 5249 2700 Brief Bio-sketch of Dr Michelle Ward B.Sc(Hons) PhD who will be speaking at the Retina Australia (Vic) Inc. Annual General Meeting as well as the forum listed above. Michelle completed a Bachelor of Science degree in 2002 and subsequently obtained a doctoral qualification in retinal neuroscience from the university of Melbourne in 2007. Michelle has since worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the United Kingdom and Australia studying the underlying mechanisms of retinal disease. During 2008, Michelle was awarded travel scholarships to present at the Association for Research Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in the USA and the International Congress of Eye Research Retinal Degenerations meeting in China. Since 2004, Michelle has been responsible for publishing a number of Journal Articles related to her research. At the present time, Michelle is a research officer in the Anatomy and Cell Biology department at the University of Melbourne. End of article Beginning of article Last Word A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. LAO-TZU, FIFTH CENTURY B.C. End of Article Beginning of Article CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR OTHER DETAILS To advise change of address or name, please enter your new particulars below. Then mail the whole of this page, which includes your existing particulars, to: Retina Australia (Vic) Inc., 247–251 Flinders Lane, MELBOURNE VIC 3000, Fax to 03 9639 0979 or email to support@retinavic.org.au Name. New Postal Address. Telephone/s. New Email. End of Article Beginning of Article DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Retina Australia (Vic) Inc. Retina Australia (Vic) Inc accepts no responsibility and disclaims all liability for such views as well as for any information contained in articles and summaries of research reports, including but not restricted to, the use of pharmaceuticals or other products, items of equipment or practices. Retina Australia (Vic) Inc strongly suggests that persons seek advice from their medical practitioners before adopting any changed procedures, practices or products. End of Article