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UrduThe Annual Gala, on February 6th, will benefit Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) research and patient education programs and honor leaders in glaucoma research and the visionaries and catalysts who share GRF’s mission to cure glaucoma and restore vision through innovative research.
Gala honorees will include physician, researcher, inventor, and technology developer Sean Ianchulev, MD, MPH, who will receive the Catalyst Award. Dr. Ianchulev’s achievements as an eye surgeon, researcher, innovator, entrepreneur, and humanitarian make him an inspiration to peers and patients and a true catalyst for next-generation glaucoma care. The Gala will also honor Michael Belkin, MA, MD, with Glaucoma 360’s Visionary Award. A legend in vision science and care, Dr. Belkin championed several innovations that have transformed glaucoma management. This year’s President’s Award, honoring bold philanthropy, will shine a spotlight on Delta Gamma, a woman’s fraternal organization that volunteers, supports, and advocates for the visually impaired community.
The New Horizons Forum will take place on Friday, February 7th. Attracting nearly 400 participants annually, this unique gathering unites leaders in the field of glaucoma for a full day of informative presentations, inspiring discussions, and vital networking opportunities. Clinicians, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capital financiers, key opinion leaders, and glaucoma patients will share ideas, learn, and collaborate at the only event of its kind, aimed at speeding the development of new therapies and diagnostics for glaucoma patients.
Pioneering glaucoma researcher and clinician Carla Siegfried, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Professionalism at Washington University, St. Louis, will deliver the Drs. Henry and Frederick Sutro Memorial Lecture, the Forum’s keynote address. Dr. Siegfried’s keynote lecture is titled, Glaucoma Racial Disparities: Applying Innovation from Bench to Clinic to Community. “Individuals of African descent are at higher risk of developing glaucoma at a younger age and are more likely to lose vision compared to those of European descent,” says Dr. Siegfried. “Social determinants of health — health literacy, access to care, discrimination in medical research — play an important role in this risk. But our research has also identified basic physiological differences in oxygen metabolism and oxidative stress in the aqueous outflow system that could play a role in glaucoma. New Horizons provides a unique opportunity to explore all these facets and work together toward innovative solutions.”
New Horizons will also include an insightful presentation on how artificial intelligence is transforming glaucoma diagnosis and management, led by Felipe A. Medeiros, MD, PhD, of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, and Inder Paul Singh, MD, president of The Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha. “We’ll discuss how AI tools are expanding access to care in low-resource settings and bridging global disparities,” says Dr. Medeiros. “We’ll also look at how AI is being applied in screening for systemic diseases using eye imaging, as well as in improving clinical trial designs for investigating new glaucoma treatments.” In addition, 60 speakers have been invited from companies and institutions across the United States and around the world.
“The ‘research’ in Glaucoma Research Foundation motivates everything this organization does,” says Adrienne Graves, PhD, who co-founded the event along with Andrew Iwach, MD, executive director for Glaucoma Center of San Francisco. “But research takes time, and we wanted to address patients’ needs more immediately. Engaging the entire glaucoma community and showcasing innovators is a great way to do that,” says Dr. Graves.
“There simply is no other event like Glaucoma 360 for anyone interested in emerging therapies and ideas they can take back to their clinical practice,” adds Dr. Iwach. “Come for the program that intrigues you most and take advantage of your San Francisco visit by experiencing the full 360.”
Past participants say the New Horizons Forum is a not-to-be missed meeting of the minds — an outstanding blend of basic science, clinical insight, and industry perspective, all in a congenial atmosphere conducive to collaboration.
Glaucoma 360 concludes with two continuing medical education symposia for ophthalmologists and optometrists. At the 29th annual Glaucoma Symposium CME on February 8, the Shaffer-Hetherington-Hoskins Keynote Lecture will be presented by M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS, President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at Wayne State University, where he served as President from 2012 to 2023. He is currently a visiting Professor of Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute undertaking glaucoma and epidemiology research.
About Glaucoma Research Foundation
Founded in San Francisco in 1978, Glaucoma Research Foundation is America’s oldest and most experienced institution dedicated to its mission to cure glaucoma and restore vision through innovative research. The Foundation has a proven track record of pioneering, results-oriented research and produces definitive educational materials used by eye care professionals across the country. The Glaucoma Research Foundation website, www.glaucoma.org, provides valuable information about glaucoma to millions of visitors annually. For more information about Glaucoma Research Foundation and Glaucoma 360 events, please contact Alexandra Dewey at 415.986.3162, ext. 221 or [email protected] or visit www.glaucoma360.org.
