Glaucoma 360 unites ophthalmic teams in one direction for better solution, ultimately a cure

See what makes the Glaucoma 360 meeting so unique. (Video courtesy of the Glaucoma Research Foundation)

San Francisco-Glaucoma 360 is an all-encompassing event in which clinicians, scientists, industry, and business converge in one direction to discover a cure for glaucoma.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) kicked off its 4th annual Glaucoma 360 meeting, a series of three events over this weekend that unites clinicians, researchers, members of industry, and philanthropy with one mission-to finding a cure for glaucoma. The 3-day event began last night and runs through Saturday (Thursday, Feb. 5, to Saturday, Feb. 7) at the Palace Hotel.

GRF’s signature event features the "Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala," held last night; the “New Horizons Forum,” scheduled for today; and the “CME Symposium,” which concludes the meeting on Saturday.

Glaucoma 360 was founded by Adrienne Graves, PhD, and Andrew G. Iwach, MD, both of whom serve on the GRF’s Board of Directors. Drs. Graves and Iwach also serve as co-chairpersons for Glaucoma 360.

Ophthalmology Times is “The Official Partner and Media Sponsor” for the meeting.    

Dr. Iwach points out that Glaucoma 360 continues to grow and the meeting has exceeded GRF’s expectations.

“Glaucoma 360 is all-encompassing-all in the same direction,” Dr. Iwach added, “trying to find a better solution, and ultimately a cure.”

Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala

More than 400 researchers, physicians, volunteers, and donors officially launched the 2015 Glaucoma 360 meeting on Thursday night with an evening of fun and recognition by attending the “Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala.”

The Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala included a President’s Reception, a silent auction, dinner and awards, and an exchange of viewpoints and ideas. The evening closed with a special performance from acclaimed Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito.

GRF’s “Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala" is an annual fundraiser event, which has raised more than $3 million for the organization and its programs since its inception in 2007. The event, which took place at the historic Palace Hotel, also showcased the visionaries and catalysts who share GRF’s mission to prevent vision loss from glaucoma by investing in innovative research, education, and support with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for glaucoma.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of The Catalyst Award, GRF’s most prestigious honor. The 2015 recipient was Dr. Graves, a global leader in ophthalmology who has dedicated her career to the advancement of innovation to help patients preserve their vision. Dr. Graves was honored for her outstanding leadership and many contributions to ophthalmology and for her dedicated service on GRF’s Board of Directors.

GRF also presented its Visionary Award to two renowned stem-cell researchers, Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, a 2012 Nobel Laureate, and Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD, 2014 Stem Cell Person of the Year, for their pioneer work to improve global healthcare and to treat blinding eye disease.

The Catalyst for a Cure (CFC) Biomarker Initiative funded by Glaucoma Research Foundation is a collaborative research effort designed to accelerate the pace of discovery toward better treatments and ultimately a cure for glaucoma. The CFC principal investigators are: Alfredo Dubra, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin; Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, Shiley Eye Center, University of California San Diego; Andrew Huberman, PhD, University of California San Diego; and Vivek Srinivasan, PhD, University of California Davis. This report from the CFC investigators is an overview of research progress as of February 2015. (Video courtesy of the Glaucoma Research Foundation)

Attendees also received a research update from the four principal scientists in the Catalyst for Cure Biomarker Initiative.

The principal scientists-Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD, of the Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego; Andrew Huberman, PhD, also of the University of California, San Diego; Vivek Srinivason, PhD, of the University of California, Davis; and Alfredo Dubra, PhD of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Madison-have identified a series of targets for glaucoma biomarkers. The initiative, funded by GRF, is a collaborative research effort designed to accelerate the pace of discovery toward better treatments and ultimately a cure for glaucoma.

The Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala was co-chaired by Nobuko Saito Cleary and Gary Cleary, PharmD, PhD, Marguerite McDonald, MD, and Robert N. Weinreb, MD.

New Horizons Forum

The New Horizons Forum, the centerpiece of Glaucoma 360, unites the leading ophthalmic leaders from the areas of medicine, science, industry, venture capital, and FDA in one place for unique dialogue about research innovation and advances in glaucoma treatment. The daylong meeting, which runs today, includes key lectures, presentations, panel discussions, and networking on the important topics in glaucoma.

Dr. Graves explained that innovators may need guidance to advance their ideas, early-stage companies may need additional financing to proceed with product development, and venture capitalists and industry are looking for the next opportunities.

“The New Horizons Forum gathers everyone together to stimulate and facilitate key discussions and connections,” Dr. Graves said. “Showcasing the latest innovations, in a diverse audience of clinicians/venture capitalists/industry/FDA, is a way for GRF to serve as a catalyst in the development of new glaucoma products.”

From the physician’s perspective, Dr. Iwach added that physicians need better solutions to help their patients.

“This meeting fosters collaboration and partnership and our goal is to accelerate the development of new treatments and potentially a cure,” Dr. Iwach added. “This is the only innovation meeting of its kind dedicated solely to glaucoma, and once again we have an outstanding line up of speakers and presenting companies.”

The New Horizons Forum will open with the Drs. Henry and Frederick Sutro Memorial Lecture, which was created to promote innovation in glaucoma therapy, in addition to a continuing education program for clinicians to highlight the latest advances in glaucoma management.

Paul P. Lee, MD, professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Michigan and director of W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, MI, will deliver this year’s Sutro Memorial Lecture. His presentation will address the “Opportunities and Challenges for Innovation in Glaucoma.”

Andrew Huberman, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurosciences, Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego, will provide an update on the Catalysts for a Cure Biomarkers Initiative. Dr. Huberman will present on “Early Neuronal Changes: Markers for Glaucoma.”

Several industry panel discussions are planned throughout the day. The topic for discussion include:

Funding New Horizons:Venture Capital, moderated by Richard Lindstrom, MD, founder of Minnesota Eye Consultants, Minneapolis, and Alan Crandall, MD, senior vice chairman of the University Utah’s Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City. Participants will include Eugene de Juan Jr., MD, founder and vice chairman of ForSight Labs; Gil Kliman, MD, managing director of InterWest Partners; and Ed Mathers, partner with New Enterprise Associates.

Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals, moderated by Gary Novack, PhD, president of PharmaLogic Development; and Kuldev Singh, MD, professor of ophthalmology at Stanford University. The participants include Doug Hubatsch, senior brand lead, medical affairs at Alcon Laboratories; Michael R. Robinson, MD, vice president of clinical development for Allergan Inc.; and Tracy M. Valorie, MBA, vice president/general manager at Bausch + Lomb.

Glaucoma Devices, moderated by K. Angela MacFarlane, JD, president and chief executive officer of ForSight Labs, and Cynthia Mattox, MD, vice chairwoman of ophthalmology at Tufts University, Boston. Participants will include Jane Rady, divisional vice president at Abbott Medical Optics; Ernie Bravo, global marketing director of surgical glaucoma at Alcon Laboratories, Tracy M. Valorie, MBA, vice president/general manager at Bausch + Lomb; Ralf Kuschnereit, PhD, president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec; and Ernest Cavin, PhD, president of Haag-Streit.

Getting to New Horizons: FDA, moderated by Stuart Abelson, MBA, president and CEO of Ora Inc.; Eugene de Juan Jr. MD, founder and vice chairman of ForSight Labs. Speakers will be Wiley Chambers, MD, and Malvina B. Eydelman, MD, both of the FDA.

The remainder of the day’s program will feature updates from early-stage glaucoma companies that will present their latest information on drug delivery, pharmaceuticals, IOP monitoring, diagnostic, and digital health, and devices.

In Drug Delivery, the companies with updates include: DSM Biomedical, Envisia Therapeutics, Euclid Systems, ForSight VISION5, GrayBug, Mati Therapeutics, Ocular Therapeutics, and Replenish.

In IOP Monitoring, Diagnostics and Digital Health, updates will include presentations by Implantdata Ophthalmic Products GmbH, Sensimed, SOLX, Wills Eye Hospital, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals will cover presentations from Aerie Pharmaceuticals and Bausch + Lomb.

Glaucoma Devices will conclude the program with talks from AqueSys, EyeSonix, EyeTechCare, Glaukos, InnFocus, iSTAR Medical, Ivantis, New World Medical, and Transcend Medical.

The New Horizons Forum is made possible with sponsorship from many companies, including Abbott Medical Optics, Akorn, Alcon Laboratories, Allergan, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Beaver-Visitec International, Bausch + Lomb, Carl Zeiss Meditec, CenterVue, DSM Biomedical, Ellex, Genentech, Glaukos, Haag-Streit, Heidelberg Engineering, Icare USA, Iridex, The Link Family, Lumenis, Mobius Therapeutics, New World Medical, Nidek, Nova Bay Pharmaceuticals, Ocular Therapeutix, Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Co., Ora, Optovue, Reichert, Shire, and TearLab.

Glaucoma Symposium

The last day of Glaucoma 360 is dedicated to the science and clinical aspects in the industry’s search for a glaucoma cure.

The 19th Annual Glaucoma Symposium will update ophthalmologists and attendees on key developments and current issues in glaucoma. Glaucoma specialists will discuss insights and advances related to glaucoma management, pharmaceuticals, and surgery. The symposium also will offer the opportunity for physicians and clinicians to network and learn the latest updates on the most effective treatment options for patients.

“We will cover a wide range of topics from medications to lasers to diagnostics to surgical interventions to genetics to treatment options,” Dr. Iwach said. “Our goal is to keep everyone current on the latest medical advances in glaucoma. We are also addressing the many changes (that are occurring in medicine) that are leaving patients confused about their medical plans.”

The highlight of the Glaucoma Symposium is the Shaffer-Hetherington-Hoskins Keynote Lecture. This year’s presenter is Paul P. Lee, MD. He returns to the podium to talk about “Improving Patient Outcomes: Combining Art and Science.”

The rest of the symposium includes presentations from:

• Robert T. Chang, MD – “Glaucoma  Genetics: Facts vs. Fiction”

• Yvonne Ou, MD – “Stem Cells and Glaucoma: Fact or  Fiction?”

• Robert N. Weinreb, MD – “Glaucoma Neuroprotection”

• Shan C. Lin, MD – “Laser Treatments for Angle Closure Glaucoma”

• Terri Pickering, MD – “Exfoliation Syndrome: IOP & Beyond”

• Sunita Radhakrishnan, MD – “Status of Medical Therapy in Glaucoma”

• Thomas W. Samuelson, MD – “Management of Cataract and Glaucoma”

• Ruth D. Williams, MD – “Economic Profiling: Effects on an Ophthalmology Practice”

• Alan S. Crandall, MD – “Complexities Encountered with Cataract Surgery in Glaucoma Patients”

• Cynthia Mattox, MD – “Optimizing Refractive Outcomes After Trabeculectomy and Tube Shunts

• Kuldev Singh, MD – “The Expanding Role of Traditional Glaucoma Drainage Devices”

• Steven Vold, MD – “New Horizons in Glaucoma Devices”            

• Robert L. Stamper, MD – “What to do When Your Best Efforts Fail”

• Andrew G. Iwach, MD – “Glaucoma: Managing the Odds”