JOHN A. MORAN EYE CENTER SHARON ECCLES STEELE CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE: OVERVIEW The Sharon Eccles Steele Center for Translational Medicine (SCTM) was created to more quickly and cost-effectively turn scientific discoveries into clinically effective diagnostics and therapies for blinding eye conditions. With the support of committed donors, SCTM Executive Director Gregory S. Hageman, PhD, has turned a series of groundbreaking discoveries into a new treatment designed to halt or even prevent a prevalent form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). More than 20 million Americans are living with AMD, a leading cause of central vision loss among adults age 55 and over. That number is expected to grow to 40 million people by 2050.
Groundbreaking Discoveries Dr. Hageman and his team have developed new treatments based on years of genetic research that demonstrates AMD is at least two biologically distinct diseases. of genes on chromosome 1 causes one form • Aofcluster AMD. pair of genes on chromosome 10 causes a second • Aform of AMD.
Gregory S. Hageman, PhD, executive director of the Sharon Eccles Steele Center for Translational Medicine.
Collectively, these genes account for more than 90 percent of the risk for developing AMD. Genetic variants on chromosome 1 offer strong protection against the development of AMD.
New Treatment Approach The SCTM’s first therapy to enter the FDA approval pipeline is a gene therapy that targets chromosome 1-directed AMD.
Normal Retina
Drusen
Advanced AMD
AMD affects a part of the eye called the macula, the region of the retina that supports seeing fine detail. Individuals with early-stage AMD develop drusen—abnormal, yellow deposits of lipids, fatty proteins that form under the macula. Later stages of AMD often are associated with the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina, or degeneration of the retina.
CALL 801-585-9700 OR VISIT MORANEYECENTER.ORG TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT NEW TREATMENTS FOR AMD OR DONATE TO THE SCTM.
