Inherited Retinal Disease Genetic Testing Webinar-Workshop for Eye Care Professionals

COLUMBIA, Maryland – May 19, 2020 – The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s leading organization searching for treatments and cures for inherited retinal diseases, is offering a free genetic testing webinar-workshop which will provide eye care professionals in the U.S. with all the information they need to know to order no-cost genetic testing and counseling online through the Open Access Genetic Testing Program. The webinar will include a review of all program features and the online ordering process. The webinar will conclude with a 30-minute participant Q&A session.

Register for the genetic testing webinar-workshop at bit.ly/2WzmvjS.

The Open Access Genetic Testing Program is provided by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Blueprint Genetics, and InformedDNA. The partners bring best-in-class screening technology (322-gene panel), unparalleled IRD genetics knowledge and counseling experience, and a robust patient registry (MyRetinaTracker.org) to the collaboration. Also, patient privacy is always protected—program participant information is never released.

The goals of the patient-centric Open Access Genetic Testing Program are to:

1. Provide a molecular diagnosis to as many IRD patients as possible.
2. Ensure that patients and families understand the testing results.
3. Get patients on the radar screens of therapy developers conducting trials.

“The Open Access Genetic Testing Program is committed to helping as many patients with IRDs as possible. With dozens of clinical trials underway for IRD therapies, and an FDA-approved gene therapy for RPE65 mutations, we have an excellent opportunity to get patients and families on the path to potential and emerging treatments,” says Tero-Pekka Alastalo, MD, PhD, executive medical director, Blueprint Genetics. “We are also committed to ensuring that patients and their families understand test results and their implications.”

Presenters of the webinar-workshop:

• Tero-Pekka Alastalo, MD, PhD, Executive Medical Director, Blueprint Genetics
• Karmen Trzupek, CGC, Director, Ocular and Rare Diseases Genetic Services, InformedDNA
• Adam Beres, National Sales Director, US, Blueprint Genetics
• Michelle Glaze, Associate Director, Professional Outreach, Foundation Fighting Blindness
• Ben Shaberman, Senior Director, Scientific Outreach, Foundation Fighting Blindness

Current sponsors of the Open Access Genetic Testing Program include: ProQR, Blueprint Genetics, InformedDNA®, Sophia Sees Hope, and The George Gund Foundation.

This webinar does not provide continuing education credits. For additional information about the webinar-workshop, e-mail info@fightingblindness.org.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world’s leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

About Blueprint Genetics
Blueprint Genetics is one of the fastest growing genetic diagnostics businesses globally in the field of clinical genetic testing of rare inherited diseases. The company is based in Helsinki and Seattle, with a customer base spanning over 70 countries. BlueprintGenetics.com.

About InformedDNA
InformedDNA is the authority on the appropriate use of genetic testing. It leverages the expertise of the largest full-time staff of lab-independent, board-certified genetics specialists in the U.S. to help ensure health plans, hospitals, employers, clinicians and patients all have access to the highest quality genetic services. Key offerings include clinical genetic counseling, genetic testing utilization management, genetic testing payment integrity, and clinical trial support. InformedDNA.com.