For the first time, Foundation-funded scientists have created an animal model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that closely represents the vision-robbing disease in humans. This advancement gives biopharmaceutical companies a new and invaluable platform for the development of therapies that can stop the AMD process at an early stage, before any vision is lost. And, this new mouse model will help us move closer to a cure for all forms of AMD — both wet and dry.

Two of the world’s top retinal researchers came to Capitol Hill on June 24 to educate congressional staff about their landmark clinical trial in which they used gene therapy to restore some vision in three young adults who were virtually blind from a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa known as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Seventy people attended the briefing, which was hosted by the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.