Eye Health News and Research

Latest Eye Health News and Research

AHAF awards 22 new grants to scientists worldwide for innovative vision research

The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), a nonprofit organization with a history of funding cutting-edge research on age-related diseases, announced today that it has awarded 22 new grants totaling nearly $2.2 million to scientists worldwide who are studying glaucoma and macular degeneration. The two conditions are the leading causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness in the U.S.

8 Jul 2011

Longer looks: Shortage of HIV doctors; Oregon program builds on British model

Of the 3,155 U.S.-based members of the HIV Medicine Assn., 45% are older than 50, according to a March 17 Institute of Medicine report on HIV screening and access to care.

8 Jul 2011

Concept advances for more accountable care to elderly patients

The Chicago Tribune reports on how the health law — via Medicare — is pushing accountable care organizations, a new model that emphasizes coordination. And, the Minneapolis Star Tribune details some of the hesitancy that seems to surround the health law's wellness screenings.

6 Jul 2011

Healthy diet might help reduce risk of macular degeneration

Eating a diet high in vitamin D, as well as the nutrients betaine and methionine, might help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, according to new research conducted by Tufts Medical Center scientists. Their study of identical twins from the US World War II Twin Registry also found that the more a person smoked, the higher their risk of developing macular degeneration.

6 Jul 2011

Checklist to stay healthy and active in summer

The summer is a great season for getting in shape. Whether by playing a sport, doing an aerobic exercise routine, or just returning to that familiar running path -- this is the time for activity.

2 Jul 2011

Roundup: Mass. doctors eye care management funds; Fla. groups fear Scott will block federal grants

It's clear from the data that hospitals and doctors can do a lot better at coordinating care for their patients. On the final day of hearings on controlling health care costs today, state officials estimated that at least $2 billion was spent in Massachusetts in 2009 on potentially avoidable emergency room visits, hospitalizations and readmissions.

2 Jul 2011

Liverpool scientists receive medical innovation award for dental device

A team of scientists from the University of Liverpool has won an award for developing a device that can identify early tooth decay and plaque before it is visible to the human eye.

1 Jul 2011

Novel drug delivery device can treat diabetes-related retinal damage

A team of engineers and scientists at the University of British Columbia has developed a device that can be implanted behind the eye for controlled and on-demand release of drugs to treat retinal damage caused by diabetes.

1 Jul 2011

Small molecule treatment holds promise for Usher syndrome

New treatment approach shall soon be ready for use in Usher syndrome patients / Publication in "Human Gene Therapy".

1 Jul 2011

Amylin behaves when guarded by zinc

In type 2 diabetes, a protein called amylin forms dense clumps that shut down insulin-producing cells, wreaking havoc on the control of blood sugar. But zinc has a knack for preventing amylin from misbehaving.

1 Jul 2011

ESC Congress 2011 to spotlight 'controversial issues in cardiology'

The scientific programme for this year's ESC Congress, which will take place in Paris from 27-31 August, is now complete and promises to provide journalists with a rich source of front-page news stories and background for topical features.

30 Jun 2011

Anabasis, Scil Proteins enter license deal for rhNGF to treat eye diseases

Scil Proteins, a private biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development and production of recombinant proteins, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Anabasis Pharma.

30 Jun 2011

UNC study uses optogenetics to tweak brain wiring responsible for drug addiction behaviors

Using a combination of genetic engineering and laser technology, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have manipulated brain wiring responsible for reward-seeking behaviors, such as drug addiction.

30 Jun 2011

STSI joins JAX consortium to develop targeted cancer therapies

The Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) of San Diego, Calif., has joined a national consortium of research institutions headed by The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) that is building a library of primary human tumors with the goal of developing highly targeted cancer therapies.

30 Jun 2011

Innovation in contact lenses for children wins Donald Korb Award

Earl L. Smith III, O.D., dean of the College of Optometry at the University of Houston (UH), recently received an award for his work in slowing the progression of nearsightedness in children.

30 Jun 2011

Positive results from RISE and RIDE Phase III trials of Genentech's Lucentis for diabetic macular edema

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced 24-month results from the two pivotal Phase III trials (RISE and RIDE) assessing the efficacy and safety of Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) in people with diabetic macular edema (DME).

29 Jun 2011

Bayer Yakuhin seeks marketing authorization in Japan for EYLEA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced that Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd., Osaka, Japan, has submitted an application to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan for marketing authorization for EYLEA, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye, for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

29 Jun 2011

New concepts for how evolutionary change occurs

At a recent Kavli Futures Symposium, 19 experts from a diverse range of fields discussed the promise of using the lab to understand and exploit the evolution of organisms -- progress that may one day lead to new vaccines or other biotechnology products.

29 Jun 2011

Insufficient sleep can reduce benefit of hormones released during sleep

Nearly half of all Americans reported having difficulty sleeping. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that about 35% of people surveyed in 12 states said they slept less than 7 hours a night on average.

29 Jun 2011

Positive top line data from Mimetogen MIM-D3 Phase II clinical trial for dry eye disease

Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced positive top line data from the Phase II clinical trial of MIM-D3 for dry eye disease. The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in signs and symptoms with its low (1%) and high (5%) doses of MIM-D3, together with excellent safety and tolerability profiles.

27 Jun 2011