Blindness News and Research

RSS

Ophthalmology professor receives $60,000 RPB award to research Sjogren's syndrome

Hui Shao, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has received a $60,000 Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award from the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) organization. The grant will help fund Shao's research of Sjogren's syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease that targets the salivary and lacrimal glands - the glands that produce saliva and tears, respectively - resulting in dry mouth and dry eye symptoms.

13 Jul 2010

Silicon oil appears to protect vision in patients undergoing radiation therapy for ocular melanoma: Study

Eye cancer patients face an unenviable dilemma. They must enter treatment knowing that their surgeon's strategy to kill the deadly tumor with radiation may also sacrifice their eyesight.

13 Jul 2010

Drosophila fly study may aid in staving off diseases in humans using defensive bacteria

It has been a basic principle of evolution for more than a century that plants and animals can adapt genetically in ways that help them better survive and reproduce.

12 Jul 2010

Study on Drosophila flies may help develop treatments for serious human diseases: Article

A Science article published on July 9, 2010, describes the discovery of an alternative form of evolution that helps Drosophila flies conquer nematodes that sterilize them. Nematodes are among the most abundant, diverse and destructive parasites of plants and animals.

9 Jul 2010

Alimera Sciences submits MAA for Iluvien to MHRA

Alimera Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom for Iluvien (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert).

8 Jul 2010

Common glucose test accurately predicts Type II adult-onset diabetes, study finds

A common test to diagnose gestational diabetes -- a temporary condition which can harm both mother and child if left untreated -- also has predictive power for Type II adult-onset diabetes, a new Tel Aviv University study finds.

8 Jul 2010

ISCO and Sankara Nethralaya collaborate to develop "CytoCor" stem cell-derived corneal tissue

International Stem Cell Corporation and Sankara Nethralaya, announced today commencement of a collaboration to develop ISCO's "CytoCor™" stem cell-derived corneal tissue. The goal is to use CytoCor to treat corneal blindness and vision impairment. "This is one more step in ISCO's stated plan of building its portfolio of therapeutic agents through strategic alliances throughout the world," said Chairman, Ken Aldrich.

7 Jul 2010

Map of herpes virus "cell-entry machinery" provides new target for antiviral drugs

The mechanism by which a herpes virus invades cells has remained a mystery to scientists seeking to thwart this family of viruses. New research funded by the National Institutes of Health and published online in advance of print in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology reveals the unusual structure of the protein complex that allows a herpes virus to invade cells. This detailed map of a key piece of the herpes virus "cell-entry machinery" gives scientists a new target for antiviral drugs.

7 Jul 2010

Carrots can help protect vision, not improve

In a recent survey among eyecare providers, nearly 30 percent hear the following question at least once a week: Will eating carrots really improve my vision?

7 Jul 2010

Phase Ia clinical trial of SYL040012 for treating elevated intraocular pressure, glaucoma completed

Sylentis, a biopharmaceutical subsidiary of Grupo Zeltia and a pioneer in the research and development of new drugs based on gene silencing (interference RNA, RNAi), has completed Phase Ia of its first clinical trial with SYL040012 in the form of ophthalmic drops to treat elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma.

7 Jul 2010

Alcon signs definitive agreement to acquire LenSx Lasers

Alcon, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LenSx Lasers, Inc, a privately held company that developed the first femtosecond laser to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for use as a part of cataract surgery. The LenSx system is indicated for anterior capsulotomy and laser phacofragmentation during cataract surgery, providing a complementary surgical approach to certain manual steps within the traditional cataract procedure.

7 Jul 2010

Sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy effective for type 1 diabetes patients

Adding a continuous blood sugar level sensor to an insulin pump helps patients with type 1 diabetes achieve better blood sugar control compared to the common standard of care, multiple daily insulin injections, concludes a study published on-line today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2 Jul 2010

Sensor integrated insulin pump for better blood sugar control

30 Jun 2010

InNexus develops IXS312 small protein fragment as topical therapy for AMD, diabetic retinal dysplasia

InNexus Biotechnology Inc., a drug development company commercializing the next generation of antibodies based on its groundbreaking Dynamic Cross Linking (DXL™) technology, today announced that it has developed IXS312(VEGF), an antibody fragment with activity against the growth factor VEGF for planned use in ocular treatments.

30 Jun 2010

Study: Near-normal glucose control does not delay risk of organ damage in diabetes patients

In people with longstanding type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not delay the combined risk of diabetic damage to kidneys, eyes, or nerves, but did delay several other signs of diabetic damage, a study has found. The intensive glucose treatment was compared with standard glucose control.

30 Jun 2010

AqueSys secures $35 million in Series C financing round

AqueSys, Inc., a medical device company that develops, manufactures and distributes proprietary implants for glaucoma, today announced that it has secured $35 million in Series C financing. The round was led by Longitude Capital and Rho Ventures, with participation from existing investors Accuitive Medical Ventures, The Carlyle Group and SV Life Sciences.

30 Jun 2010

Alimera submits Iluvien NDA for DME to FDA

Alimera Sciences, Inc.,, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Iluvien®, (flucocinolone acetonide intravitreal insert), its investigational, sustained drug delivery system releasing sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

29 Jun 2010

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Researchers funded by JDRF have discovered that the hormone, serotonin, may be involved in the increase of insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy.

29 Jun 2010

Dapagliflozin in addition to insulin improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetics

Results from a 24-week Phase 3 clinical study demonstrated that the addition of the investigational drug dapagliflozin achieved reductions in the primary endpoint, glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), in inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes patients who were treated with insulin (with or without oral anti-diabetes medications (OADs)), compared to placebo plus insulin (with or without OADs).

29 Jun 2010

School-based program lowers obesity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in high risk youth

An intervention in middle schools lowered the obesity rate in students at highest risk for type 2 diabetes, those who started out overweight or obese in sixth grade, an NIH-funded study has found. However, schools that implemented the program did not differ from comparison schools in the study's primary outcome-the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined-which had declined 4 percent in both groups of schools by the end of the three-year study.

29 Jun 2010

Blindness News and Research

Ophthalmology professor receives $60,000 RPB award to research Sjogren's syndrome

Silicon oil appears to protect vision in patients undergoing radiation therapy for ocular melanoma: Study

Drosophila fly study may aid in staving off diseases in humans using defensive bacteria

Study on Drosophila flies may help develop treatments for serious human diseases: Article

Alimera Sciences submits MAA for Iluvien to MHRA

Common glucose test accurately predicts Type II adult-onset diabetes, study finds

ISCO and Sankara Nethralaya collaborate to develop "CytoCor" stem cell-derived corneal tissue

Map of herpes virus "cell-entry machinery" provides new target for antiviral drugs

Carrots can help protect vision, not improve

Phase Ia clinical trial of SYL040012 for treating elevated intraocular pressure, glaucoma completed

Alcon signs definitive agreement to acquire LenSx Lasers

Sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy effective for type 1 diabetes patients

Sensor integrated insulin pump for better blood sugar control

InNexus develops IXS312 small protein fragment as topical therapy for AMD, diabetic retinal dysplasia

Study: Near-normal glucose control does not delay risk of organ damage in diabetes patients

AqueSys secures $35 million in Series C financing round

Alimera submits Iluvien NDA for DME to FDA

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Dapagliflozin in addition to insulin improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetics

School-based program lowers obesity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in high risk youth

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News