Ben Patrusky
Seminar Director
[email protected]
212-254-8685

Research to Prevent Blindness

RPB science writers seminar in eye research to be held in Washington, DC Sept. 22-25

Detailed alert - third announcement

Fact is, given the uncommonly robust and prolific period of vision research that followed in the wake of our last briefing, this year's -- featuring an extraordinary cavalcade of stellar achievements -- will almost certainly rank as our finest, most newsworthy ever.

Some 30 world-class investigators will be on hand to brief you on a dazzling array of new advances related to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, amblyopia, dry eye and a host of other vision-imperiling diseases (not to mention the results of a first-of-its-kind study that could go a long way towards helping both duffers and pros improve their golf game). Needless to say, there'll be a ton of terrific stories to file.

PROCEEDINGS BEGIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, SEPT. 22 AT 1:00 P. M. with a special session: THE PEDIATRIC EYE. It will offer reports on: the latest wisdom regarding the development of near- and far-sightedness in children, what signs parents should look for and what measures to take; LASIK surgery to treat and ultimately prevent amblyopia ("lazy eye") in the pediatric population; latest findings from a trial designed to assess the benefits of intraocular lens implantation vs. contact lens therapy to correct vision in infants after surgery for congenital cataract; the latest word on the newly developed abilities to predict and perhaps prevent retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in utero as well as eliminate it entirely postnatally.

Here now a rundown on some of the other major developments you'll be hearing about over the ensuing, news-laden days:

• New results suggest that age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older Americans, may be at root an inflammatory disorder, a discovery that could open the way to a host of new preventive measures. Also, up-to-the minute reports on: highly innovative "targeted cell therapy" aimed at quelling the growth of abnormal retinal blood vessels, the ultimate cause of blindness in AMD (as well as diabetic retinopathy); and a new procedure for rapidly training AMD and other visually impaired patients to make use of alternative regions of the retina for reading, driving or other visual tasks.

• New experimental trials testify to the strong promise of a variety of strategies for restoring vision to blind individuals, ranging from retinal cell grafts to highly innovative retinal implants.

• New research into the genetics of glaucoma and new ideas about the mechanisms and molecules responsible for its onset herald the emergence of a variety of new therapeutic approaches -- among them, gene therapy aimed at either relieving the fluid pressure in the eye that leads to optic nerve damage or protecting the nerve from said damage.

• Latest expert assessment of patient outcomes sharpens the definition of who will benefit most (and least) from LASIK and other, newer cornea-reshaping interventions.

• New evidence that goes to bolster a long-sought "unified" theory to explain the origin of "dry eye" could lead to more effective remedies for the millions suffering from this troublesome disorder.

• Latest results from the large-scale investigation that's yielding the best information yet about eye disease in the growing Hispanic population will likely have profound impact on the US health care system.

• New-to-the-scene imaging technique gives researchers the ability to look into the eye and catch the immune system in action as prelude to better understanding of fundamental processes essential to inflammation and infection.

• New experimental trials demonstrate power of specially tailored molecules to pass effortlessly into the eye to home in on and destroy ocular cancers.

• New discovery points the way to the prevention of post-surgical cataracts, a not infrequent complication of retinal or vitreous interventions.

THOSE STORIES AND A WHOLE LOT MORE, including reports on: new procedures for delivering drugs into the eye that hold promise of eliminating need for injection by needle to treat retinal and other ocular ills; newly developed bio-glue to replace stitches and ease and speed corneal-wound healing; important new findings related to the genetic disruptions underlying Fuch's syndrome, a progressive deterioration of the cornea; the latest word on newly approved 30-day-wear contact lenses; the latest findings related to the development of new therapies (drugs and vaccines) against serious, hard-to-treat eye infections; and novel surgery for treating nystagmus (involuntary, rhythmic side-to-side or up-and-down movements of the eye).

AND STILL MORE. Beyond the science, there's the all-important social framework. We continue to put a very high priority on the schmooze quotient�on providing ample opportunities for scientists and journalists to get to know each other, to talk one-on-one in a comfortable setting. Ergo:

• A welcome reception on Saturday evening, Sept. 21, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

• On Sunday, a noon-hour bagel nosh to be followed by a special mini-symposium on "The Pediatric Eye," scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

• Each day, beginning on Monday, complimentary buffet breakfast and lunch.

• Each evening, at the conclusion of sessions, a cocktail-cum-canap� soiree.

As you can see, plenty of reasons for you to join us. Hope you can make it.

TO ASSURE HOTEL SPACE, PLEASE EMAIL[email protected] indicating that you would like to reserve a single or a double room and provide arrival and departure dates. If you plan to attend but do not need a hotel room, please also notify us at the same address so that your press kit, badge and other materials can be prepared.

The special rate at The St. Gregory Hotel is $169 plus 14% room tax per night, single or double. The hotel, a lovely hostelry ideally suited for intimate assemblies such as ours, is within 4 blocks of two Metro stops -- DuPont Circle (on the Red Line) or Foggy Bottom (Orange and Blue Lines). Super Shuttle Van Service from Ronald Reagan National Airport costs $9 (from Dulles, $20; from BWI, $30).

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact either of us. Tom Furlong
Director of Public Information
1-800-621-0026
[email protected]

or

Ben Patrusky
Seminar Director
212-254-8685
[email protected]