2020 On-site forms Industry and Scientific Advisory Board

Boston-based mobile optometry company 2020 On-site has formed an Industry and Scientific Advisory Board (IASAB) to gather ideas, share thoughts and debate key business concepts.

In a release, On-site noted that the board’s seven members will meet quarterly to identify patient needs, product opportunities and market challenges associated with the provision of vision-related assessments for clinical trials and safety surveillance programs.

Having recently secured an additional $3.5 million in growth capital to complete an $8 million investment, 2020 On-site will be guided by the IASAB’s findings as it increases its support for clinical trials through the delivery of ophthalmic assessments conducted at or near patients’ homes.

With its five mobile vision clinics, the company provides routine optometry, ophthalmic endpoint collection for clinical trials and post-marketing drug adherence.

Jeanne Taylor Hecht, IASAB chair and the founder and CEO of JTH Consulting LLC, said in a release that she hopes to contribute to 2020 On-site’s transformational work by helping it find ways to use its business model to fill needs within the eye-care industry.

“Guided by our assessments of the state of vision care and the company’s value proposition, potential client base and strategies for overcoming challenges, I expect 2020 On-site to build a revolutionary level of collaboration with researchers and the patients they seek to engage,” she said in the statement.

A key goal for 2020 On-site is to continue supporting decentralized clinical trials by facilitating the participation of a diverse population of patients.

CEO Alexis McLaughlin said company leadership is committed to ensuring that 2020 On-site is “positioned to share its expertise in clinical trial enrollment, retention, satisfaction and enhancing the diversity of trial participants while providing an extended geographic reach to patients so that more vulnerable populations can be included.”

“We are both proud and inspired to have the support of the esteemed business leaders on the IASAB as we undertake that journey,” she added in the statement.

Hecht is among the seven board members. A global business executive, she has experience leading successful teams within the product development, pharmaceutical services, and life-sciences spaces.

Through JTH Consulting, she provides advisory services and consultation in support of global and domestic growth strategies on behalf of for-profit and non-profit organizations in the life-sciences, clinical-research, eClinical, site-development, and pharmaceutical-development markets.

Also serving on the board are:

Rajat Agrawal MD, MS, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist with more than 25 years of experience across academia and industry. He is CEO and president of Retina Global, an international nonprofit organization that gives communities access to retinal evaluation and treatment. In addition, he advises and consults for ophthalmology companies.

Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, director of the vitreoretinal service and retina research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, one of the largest U.S. multi-specialty ophthalmology practices. Dr. Heier is on the executive board of the Retina Society and the executive committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists. The past president of the New England Ophthalmological Society,he is a member of the Macula Society.

Peter K. Kaiser, MD, Chaney Family Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research and a professor of ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. As a National Eye Institute and National Institute of Health RO1-funded principal investigator, Dr. Kaiser leads a team involved in the evaluation of vascular biology in age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Beth Marsh, vice president of North America Sales and Marketing, Ophthalmology, for Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Marsh has held leadership roles at Shire/Takeda, J&J, and Novartis and helped launch ophthalmic start-up organizations and products. At Apellis, she is leading the buildout of the U.S. ophthalmology division in advance of a potential product to treat geographic atrophy.

Jason Menzo, chief operating officer of Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s leading organization searching for treatments and cures for blinding retinal degenerative diseases. Mr. Menzo also serves on the management team for the Retinal Degeneration Fund (RD Fund), the venture arm of the Foundation, which aims to fuel startup companies.

Adam Ramsey, OD, an optometrist and owner of Socialite Vision in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a multi-location practice. Dr. Ramsey is a nationally recognized speaker and advisory board member for Bausch and Lomb, Zeiss, Alcon, Novartis and SeaCoast Bank.

Founded in 2014, 2020 On-site’s mobile vision clinics and eye care team have provided vision care to more than