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Catalyst For a Cure scientists present initial findings at major research meeting
In May 2005, Scientists from the Catalyst For a Cure (CFC) collaborative research program presented initial findings at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. ARVO is the world’s largest research meeting devoted specifically to vision research with more than 11,000 attendees from all fields of vision research. The CFC scientists presented their work in seven different sessions where they were well received by their colleagues in the quest for a cure for glaucoma.
Monica Vetter, PhD, CFC principal investigator from the University of Utah, said, “Since our long-term goal is to develop strategies for preventing vision loss in glaucoma, it is essential to understand the molecular changes associated with glaucoma, especially at early stages of the disease.” Her enthusiastically received poster and lecture presented the first results of the CFC study comparing gene profiles during the development of glaucoma. According to Dr. Vetter, “We found consistent changes in immune response genes at an early stage of the disease, as well as evidence of changes in retinal glia, suggesting molecular pathways that could be targeted for intervention.”