Clinical Trials of Emerging Therapies for Retinal Degeneration Patients: Hope and Opportunities
April 5, 2021. More than 40 clinical trials for emerging retinal degenerative disease therapies are underway. The studies provide hope for patients and the opportunity for them to participate in the research.
The continuing education course enables eye care professionals to:
- Discuss why it is essential for patients with inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and AMD to know about clinical research.
- Describe patient perspectives on clinical trials and their expectations and experiences when participating in them.
- Gain insights about the clinical trial process from the perspective of the investigator.
The course was delivered by Alan Kimura, MD, PhD, president and a partner at Colorado Retina, the largest retina-specialty private practice in the Rocky Mountain West. In addition to providing care and treatment for patients with inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration, he is an investigator in clinical trials for emerging retinal disease therapies. Dr. Kimura received his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and in-between his two-year vitreoretinal fellowship at the University of Iowa and joining the faculty at the University of Iowa, he returned to the University of Illinois where he did his ophthalmology residency to take another fellowship under Dr. Gerald Fishman in inherited retinal diseases and clinical electrophysiology. After a decade on faculty at Iowa and earning tenure, Dr. Kimura started in private practice retina in Denver in 1996. Dr Kimura earned his master’s degree in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Using that knowledge, Colorado Retina was selected to be part of a $700 million Medicare Innovation Center project on practice transformation, earning “Exemplary Practice” designation and being named to the National Teaching Faculty.
*All other clinicians will receive a Certificate of Attendance stating this activity was certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Access additional course information, post-test and application for credit.
Below is a recording of the course.
Practical Management of Inherited Retinal Disorders
October 19, 2020. This continuing education course reviewed a number of topics related to care and management of patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) including:
- recommended functional and structural tests,
- potential manageable complications,
- genetic testing and why it is a critical element in IRD care,
- clinical trials and additional resources.
The course was delivered by Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD, associate surgeon and director of inherited retinal degenerations fellowships at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and assistant professor of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School.
Access additional course information, post-test and application for credit.
Below is a recording of this course.
Inherited Retinal Diseases Overview, Patient Resources and Clinical Trials
May 18, 2020. With dozens of clinical trials underway for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases, clinicians need to understand the actions they can take to better manage their IRD patients and get them on the path to clinical trials as well as future therapies. At the end of this CE activity, delivered by Jacque Duncan, MD, University of California, San Francisco participants should be able to:
- Summarize inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and their impact on patients
- Identify the benefits of IRD genetic testing, genetic counseling, and patient registries
- Review current clinical trials for emerging IRD therapies
Access additional course information, post-test, and application for credit.
Additional Credit Information
About CME Credit (Physicians)
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of CME Outfitters, LLC and Foundation Fighting Blindness. CME Outfitters, LLC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Outfitters, LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
COPE: This activity is COPE approved and worth 1.0 COPE credit.
Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (75% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac. For complete technical requirements and privacy policy, visit https://www.cmeoutfitters.com/privacy-and-confidentiality-policy.
