Optogenetics for Inherited Retinal Diseases
Tuesday, January 24, 2023. The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s leading organization committed to finding treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases, hosted an online continuing medical education (CME and COPE) course on Optogenetics for Inherited Retinal Diseases on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
In recent years, clinical research has dramatically advanced our understanding of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). Dozens of emerging therapies are currently the subject of clinical investigation and may soon enter the treatment landscape for patients suffering from IRD related sight loss. These trials offer the hope of restored visual function for IRD patients and their families.
Most eye care professionals outside of academic research centers aren't aware of the advancements in gene therapy (i.e., clinical trials) that might benefit patients with inherited retinal diseases. Optogenetics – the topic of this course – is a novel therapy that combines genetic engineering and neurobiology to restore visual function for patients with advanced vision loss, regardless of the gene causing their vision loss.
As a result of participation in this course, participants will be able to:
- Define basic optogenetics concepts and approaches
- Describe the opportunities and limitations of optogenetic therapies
- Identify patients who might be candidates for optogenetic therapies
Ehud Isacoff is a biophysicist and neuroscientist recognized for his work on membrane signaling proteins, synapses and neural circuits. Born in Darmstadt, Germany, Isacoff grew up in Israel, Boston and New York. He received his BSc in Biology and PhD in Physiology at McGill University in Montreal and was a postdoctoral fellow with Lily Jan and Yuh Nung Jan at UC San Francisco. He joined the faculty in the UC Berkeley MCB Department in 1993, and served as Head of the Neurobiology Division, Director of the Molecular Imaging Center, and Director of the Nanomedicine Development Center in the Optical Control of Biological Function. He is currently Evan Rauch Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. Isacoff has been awarded the Schubert Chair, the Class of 1943 Chair, and the Class of 1933 Chair in Biological Sciences at UC Berkeley and the Biophysical Society Kenneth S. Cole Award and Israeli Society for Physiology & Pharmacology Magnes Prize. He serves on Scientific Advisory Boards for the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, the Sagol School of Neuroscience in Tel Aviv University and on the Board of Scientific Governors of the Lowy Medical Research Institute.
Course Title: Optogenetics for Inherited Retinal Diseases
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Foundation Fighting Blindness. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (APCE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physician Credit
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
COPE Credit
This course is COPE approved for 1 hour of CE Credit. Check with your local state licensing board to see if this counts toward your CE requirement for re-licensure.
PREVIOUS CME/CE WEBINARS
A Review of Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Disease
June 30, 2022. During the one-hour webinar, Paul Yang, MD, PhD, assistant professor in ophthalmic genetics and ocular immunology at Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, discussed the emerging opportunities that gene therapies may provide for people with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and Leber congenital amaurosis. His presentation will describe how gene therapies work, options for genetic testing of patients, clinical trials, and which patients may qualify for voretigene neparvovec, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for the eye or an inherited condition.
The continuing education course will enable eye care professionals to:
- Describe gene therapy approaches to IRD patients
- Order genetic testing for IRD patients
- Discuss examples of clinical trials for emerging gene therapies
How to receive CME/CE Credit for the recorded webinar.
Attendees should complet the online evaluation to ensure full credits are received.
If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the evaluation on www.cmeuniversity.com by selecting program 17292 in the search bar.
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- Type in 17292 at the top of the page, “Find Evaluation by Course”, and click enter
- Click on the activity title when it appears
- Choose the type of credit you desire
- Complete the online Evaluation
- Receive an immediate CME/CE Certificate to download and/or print for your files.
A Review and Comparison of Different From of Age-Related and Inherited Macular Degeneration
October 26, 2021. Marco Zarbin, MD, PhD, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, reviewed, compared, and contrasted different forms of macular degeneration such as age-related macular degeneration (wet, dry and GA), Stargardt disease, Best disease, and cone-rod dystrophies.
The webinar was supported by an educational grant from Apellis Pharmaceuticals.
The continuing education course will enable eye care professionals to:
- Describe and contrast the clinical presentations of the different forms of macular degeneration.
- Discuss the genetic and environmental/lifestyle factors that affect macular degeneration risk and progression.
- Discuss the diagnoses and prognoses for different forms of macular degeneration.
- Inform patients about potential therapeutic approaches for preserving and potentially restoring vision
Dr. Zarbin serves as chair of the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and is a vice chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. He earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and MD, PhD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Access additional course information, post-test and application for credit.
Below is a recording of the course.
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.
