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Macular degeneration

£14million European-wide Macular Degeneration project is launched

Thursday 26 October 2017

A project named Macustar has been launched with the aim of reducing the burden of AMD across Europe. Led by the University of Bonn, and involving UK input from UCL and Moorfields among others, the research will involve 700 AMD patients from 20 clinical sites.

Researchers will carry out and monitor a series of tests over a five year period, in order to see if subtle changes in patient condition are achieved over time. It is hoped that the new information gleaned through the process will lead to more efficient clinical trials and drug development.

MACUSTAR is the first exclusively eye disease-focused project approved by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), Europe's largest public-private initiative aiming to speed up the development of better and safer medicines for patients.

Sources:

  1. Macular Society:
    European project aims to find new tests and treatments for AMD.

  2. Moorfields Eye Hospital:
    EU project to tackle age-related macular degeneration.

Label:

AMD

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Comments

  • Fred Davies
    11 Nov 2017

    I have very successful operations at Western Eye by Prof Bloom

    Serious Readers reply:

    Dear Mr Davis, thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear you have had successful operations.

  • Kathleen Owens
    12 Nov 2017

    Why is there no apparent interest in monitoring the transition from dry to wet ARMD? I am relatively symptom free apart from the bendy lines and await with dread the path both parents took to being seriously visually impaired. Should research investigate the possibility of preventing progression of the condition during earlier stages? I think so. I take Vision Ace +, wear sunglasses etc.

    Serious Readers reply:

    Dear Ms Owens, many thanks for your comments. The Macustar project aims to develop new imaging techniques, vision testing and patient reported outcome measures in order to see if subtle changes in AMD can be spotted over time. It is hoped that this will result in more efficient clinical trials and, eventually, drug development. Regarding your observations, unfortunately the researchers do not state whether the project will include studying the transition from dry to wet AMD, nor whether their objective is to identify macular degeneration in its early stages.

  • Jonet
    12 Nov 2017

    Are you looking for volunteers to monitor? Have been diagnosed with very early AMD. My mother had it too.

    Serious Readers reply:

    Dear Jonet, thank you for your interest. The five year research programme in the UK started September 2017 at City, University of London. We are not sure what the volunteering process is, but you might like to contact Professor David Crabb david.crabb.1@city.ac.uk or Dr Alison Binns alison.binns.1@city.ac.uk (mentioning Macustar research) at the School of Health Sciences at City, University of London in the first instance to see if volunteers are required.

  • Sarah Denholm
    13 Nov 2017

    I am interested to be kept updated on research. My mother has macular degeneration.

    Serious Readers reply:

    Dear Ms Denholm, thank you for getting in contact. We publish a six-weekly email newsletter (Serious About Light) which is a digest of key news and research in all areas of sight and light. This often includes updates on macular degeneration. To subscribe please visit https://www.seriousreaders.com/pages/subscribe. In addition, you may be interested in our knowledge bank (The Serious Blog) which contains a number of articles on macular degeneration. Simply visit https://www.seriousreaders.com/blog and click on “Macular degeneration” on the right hand side of the page.

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