Stargardt Genetic & Clinical Trials Webinar
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location
VirtualJoin us for an insightful live session on the latest advancements in Stargardt disease research, genetics, and clinical trials.
Stargardt disease is the most common form of inherited macular degeneration, primarily driven by variations in the ABCA4 gene. In this webinar, leading scientific expert Dr. Esther Biswas-Fiss will explore how genetic variants alter protein function, how researchers assess variant significance, and what current clinical trials mean for the future of retinal degeneration treatments.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
The Genetics of Stargardt Disease: A deep dive into the ABCA4 gene and how variations impact retinal health.
Demystifying Variants of Uncertain Significance: How computational tools and machine learning help classify complex genetic variants.
Clinical Trial Updates: Current Stargardt disease research and prospective therapies on the horizon.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Esther Biswas-Fiss, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM
Professor and Chair, Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware
Co-Chair, NIH-funded ClinGen ABCA4 Variant Curation Expert Panel
Dr. Esther Biswas-Fiss has devoted her research to the molecular basis of Stargardt disease. Her laboratory integrates biochemical analysis with computational and machine-learning methods to assess how ABCA4 variants affect protein structure, function, and retinal degeneration.
As Co-Chair of the ClinGen ABCA4 Variant Curation Expert Panel, Dr. Biswas-Fiss helps establish national standards for classifying ABCA4 variants. Her research is supported by the National Eye Institute of the NIH and has previously been funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Michalis Georgiou, MD, PhD
Dr. Michalis Georgiou is a clinician–scientist at Mass Eye and Ear who is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of inherited retinal disorders and a wide range of retinal conditions, including macular dystrophies; Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa; cone dysfunction syndromes; diabetic retinopathy; age-related macular degeneration; macular edema; retinal vascular occlusions; central serous retinopathy; macular telangiectasia; sickle cell retinopathy; medication-related toxicities (including hydroxychloroquine); radiation-related retinal disease; light-induced retinal injury; and high myopia.
Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Georgiou is actively involved in research aimed at improving outcomes for patients with retinal disease. He is also committed to global health and has provided medical care in underserved communities in India, Kenya, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines through charitable organizations.
For questions, contact Bailey Bostelman at BBostelman@FightingBlindness.org.
**This webinar is sponsored by Alkeus
