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The Macular Degeneration Foundation is investing in major research to find reasons and answers so that all Australians can see a future.

The inaugural Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Grants Program has, on World Sight Day, awarded
pre-eminent world leading researchers nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to support crucial research to shed light on prevention and early detection in order to save the sight of many Australians.

Announcing the grant winners at Admiralty House in Sydney, Governor-General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce AC said, "The work of the Macular Degeneration Foundation is critical in raising public awareness of Macular Degeneration and slowing its prevalence. The Macular Degeneration Foundation, a charity, relies on much community support in spreading the message. "It has achieved mighty outcomes during its short existence and Australia is now a world leader in public awareness of Macular Degeneration," she said.

Celebrating our ten year anniversary in 2011, the Macular Degeneration Foundation has announced our single largest research commitment with the establishment of the Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Grants Program.

Launching Macular Degeneration Awareness Week at the ten year anniversary Gala Fundraising Dinner on Friday 20th May, CEO Julie Heraghty announced that the Foundation had taken up the challenge to find reasons and answers for this disease, with an initial research allocation of 1.5 million dollars over the next three years.

Two types of grants are being made available for 2012.

1. The Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Grant 2012 will fund one or more major research projects that aim to reduce the impact and/or incidence of MD.
2. The second grant, proudly sponsored by Blackmores, is the Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Fellowship 2012 which supports a researcher focusing on nutritional and/or lifestyle aspects of Macular Degeneration.

• The Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Grant 2012
• Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship 2012

Researchers around the world are currently working on Macular Degeneration (MD) to find reasons for this disease and the answers needed. There are many ongoing clinical trials and the MD Foundation is proud of the many brilliant and dedicated Australian researchers who form part of this international team.

• Research Update 2011
• Research Update 2010
• Research Update 2009

There is ongoing research into Macular Degeneration both in Australia and around the world. The MD Foundation provides access to research reports for the MD Community to review and learn more about the disease. It is important to note however, that some research studies are more robust that others, and that there are differing opinions amongst the medical community about the validity of some of the research.

• RISK FACTORS

• SUPPLEMENTS

• NUTRITION AND DIET

• WET MD TREATMENTS

• CATARACT AND MD

• OTHER DISEASES AND MD

• CURRENT CLINICAL TRIALS

• RECENT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTS

• SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS

• OTHER RELEVANT AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS

• LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS

Age, family history and smoking are the only proven risk factors for MD, with smoking being the only modifiable risk factor.

• An overview of recent studies on modifiable risk factors associated with MD, written by Dr Robyn H. Guymer Associate Professor Centre for Eye Research Australia.
  • Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with MD 2006

• The following studies supports the growing body o evidence indicating that smoking is related to an increased risk of developing MD.
  • Further Observations on the Association Between Smoking and the Long-term Incidence and Progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration: The Beaver Dam Eye Study 2008
    
    
  • A Review of Studies on Smoking and MD 2005
  
  
  • Risk Factors for Incident of MD 2004
  
  
  • Smoking and MD 2004

• This research supports the growing evidence that MD is hereditary, with a 50% chance of developing MD if a family history of MD is present.
  
  • Complement Factor H variant increases the risk for early Age-related Macular Degeneration 2008
    
    
  • A Review of Recent Publications Related to the Genetics of MD 2007
    
    
  • Genetic Risk of Developing Advanced MD 2007
    
    
  • Mapping of MD Factor H Gene 2007
    
    
  • Genetic Influence on Early MD: A Twin Study 2007

• The following research papers provide evidence that MD affects 1 in 7 Australians over the age of 50, with the incidence increasing with age.
  • Ten Year Incidence and Progression of MD; The Blue Mountains Eye Study 2007
  
  
  • Prevalence of MD in Australia 2000

• Clinical trials conducted in the United States, titled The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) have found that antioxidants and zinc could help to slow the progression of age related macular degeneration (AMD), among people with intermediate and late stages of MD.
  • Summary of Results of the AREDS Study 2001
    
    
  • AREDS Website

   

• A review of eight randomised trials comparing antioxidant vitamin or mineral supplementation (alone or in combination) to a control intervention in people conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration.
  • A Review of Studies on Supplements and MD 2006

Please consult your health care professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle. Some foods and/or supplements can have an adverse effect on individual health conditions or drug regimes.

• The following papers provide evidence that suggests that a diet high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which can be found in a number of fruit and vegetables, can protect against the development or progression of MD.
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  • Diet and risk factors for age-related maculopathy 2008
    
    
  • Transport and retinal capture of lutein and zeaxanthin with reference to AMD 2008
    
    
  • Dietary antioxidants and the long-term incidence of AMD: the Blue Mountains Eye Study 2008
  • Dietary Lutein and Zeaxanthin Protect Eyes from Wet MD 2007
    
    
  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin Nutrients for Eye Health 2003
    
    
  • A Review of Evidence on the Role of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Protecting against MD 2003

   

• The following studies supports growing evidence that eating fish and nuts can provide protection against early and late ARM in this older Australian.
  • Fish Consumption and MD 2006
    
    
  • Association with MD and Fish Consumption, Smoking and Omeg-3 Fatty Acids 2006
    
    
  • Dietary Fat, Trans Fat, Nuts and Fish intake and MD 2004

The following papers provide evidence regarding the extent of success about various treatments Wet MD available in Australia.

• Lucentis (Ranibizumab)
  • Improved Vision-Related Function After Ranibizumab vs. Photodynamic Therapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial 2009
    
    
  • Trial of Ranibizumab for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: PIER Study 2008
    
  • Clinical Trial Results of Lucentis 2006
    
    
  • Success of Lucentis Vs Success of Visudyne Clinical Trial 2006

   

• Visudyne / Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
  • PDT combined with Avastin 2006
    
  • PDT Visudyne Impact on Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences 2000

   

• Avastin (Bevacizumab)
  • Avastin Treatment for Wet MD 2006
    
    
  • Is Avastin Safe? Editorial 2006

• The following research studies address the possible relationship between cataract surgery and increased prevalence of advanced Macular Degeneration.
  • Cataract surgery and the risk of aging macula disorder: the Rotterdam Study 2008
    
    
  • Age-related maculopathy and cataract surgery outcomes: visual acuity and health-related quality of life 2007
    
    
  • Early age-related maculopathy in eyes after cataract surgery 2007
    
    
  • Is there an association between cataract surgery and AMD? Data from three population-based studies 2003

• Macular Degeneration and Heart Disease
  Researchers at the University of Sydney have conducted a study which suggests that the risk of dying from cardiovascular conditions is at least doubled in people with AMD.
  Read the Summary
  
  Read the Detailed Study

• Macular Degeneration and Chronic Kidney Disease
  Two recent studies have suggested that there is a link between chronic kidney disease and the incidence of Macular Degeneration.
  
  • Serum Cystatin C Level, Kidney Disease Markers, and Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Beaver Dam Eye Study 2009
    
    
  • Chronic Kidney Disease Increases the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2008

• Clinical trials comparing Avastin and Lucentis are currently ongoing in the United States and England. The American CATT (Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials: Lucentis-Avastin Trial). This study started enrolling participants in February 2008, with preliminary results expected in February 2011. A study, called the IVAN trial is also ongoing in England.
  • Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials: Lucentis-Avastin Trial
  • The IVAN Trial

• There are a large number of MD clinical trials being conducted in the USA. Please see link below for a detailed list.
  • National Institute of Health US Clinical Trial

• Recent information about new AREDS 2 clinical trials about to commence, which will include lutein and reduce the zinc content.
  • The National Institute of Health US-AREDS 2- 2007

   

• A stem cell therapy is currently being developed that may cure Age-related Macular Degeneration. The Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital in Britain have completed trials on rats and pigs using embryonic stem cells. The trials demonstrated that stem cells can prevent blindness in these animals with a similar disease to AMD. The clinical human trial is due to commence in two years. It is expected to be the second human clinical trial in the world to use embryonic stem cells on humans. The first, on patients with spinal cord injuries, will start in the US this year.
  • UCL Stem Cell Research Funded by Pfizer 2009
    
    
  • The London Project to Cure Blindness 2009
    
    
  • Stemming Vision Loss With Stem Cells - Seeing is Believing (Lecture by Prof Pete Coffee, 2008)
    
    
  • University College London Stem Cell Research and MD 2007
    

• U.S. scientists have begun a clinical trial which involves surgically implanting a miniature telescope in the eyes of people with end-stage age-related macular degeneration.
  • Implantable Telescope 2007

• Randomised trial data from a large cohort study of women at high risk of cardiovascular disease indicated that daily supplementation with folic acid, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin may reduce the risk of AMD.
  • Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women: The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study 2009

• The UK National Library for Health released an AMD Annual Evidence Update in 2008. This update presents a collection of evidence on MD from research conducted from February 2007-May 2008. The main areas of research include: Epidemiology, Genetics, Retinal imaging for diagnosis, Therapeutic intervention: anti VEGF therapy, Surgical intervention: macular translocation and transplantation, Low vision aids and AMD and Living with AMD.
  • NLH - AMD Annual Evidence Update 2008

• The Lions Eye Institute in Perth has recently released some exciting developments for the use of gene therapy and wet MD. Scientists have been able to restore vision in dogs suffering from Lebers congential amaurosis. Although this disease is different to MD they aim adapt the knowledge learnt from these findings into human trials for wet MD. This research is still in its early stages and Phase I human trials will commence in November 2009. Contact the Lions Eye Institute for further information on participation in the study.
  • Gene therapy which could reverse blindness to be trialled on humans

• Recent findings from a study conducted in America suggested that high doses of vigorous exercise (running) are associated with lower incidence of AMD.
  • Prospective Study of Incident Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Relation to Vigorous Physical Activity during a 7-Year Follow-up 2008

• A recently published study in Australia studied red meat and chicken consumption and its association with Age-related Macular Degeneration. The results from this study suggest that different meats may differently affect AMD risk and may be a target for lifestyle modification. Please note that this is the first study of its kind worldwide and the quantity of meat consumption is very large.
  • Red Meat and Chicken Consumption and Its Association With Age-related Macular Degeneration 2008

• Pooled results from 5 cohort studies showed that heavy alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of early AMD however the association with the risk of late AMD was inconclusive. Multiple studies have been conducted in this area with varying results. Further research is required to identify whether heavy drinking is associated with the onset of Macular Degeneration
  • Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2008

• "What are we doing to find new AMD treatments?" - presented at the AMD Alliance International, May 2008.

• The following publications by the Centre for Eye Research Australia provide detailed information about the social and economic impact of MD on the Australian community.
  • Centrally Focussed - The Impact of Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2006
    
    
  • Investing in Sight - Strategic Interventions to Prevent Vision Loss in Australia 2005
    
    
  • Clear Insight- The Economic Impact and Cost of Vision Loss in Australia 2004

   

• The following link addresses the issue of depression among people with MD.
  
  • Depression in Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2008
    
    
  • MD and Depression AMD Alliance 2006

• The first ever qualitative research on patient perspectives on quality of life with AMD. Patients report the anguish of delayed diagnosis, slow referrals and poor access to the latest treatments. Europe - AMD Alliance international.
  • Quality of Life Among Wet MD Patients Europe 2007

• The following paper is a review of literature on the quality of life among people with MD.
  • White Paper on the Quality of Life among people with MD 2006

• Department of Health and Aging Reports
  • Eye Health in Australia 2005
    
    
  • Eye Health Framework 2005

   

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
  
  • Eye health in Australia: a hospital perspective 2008
    
    
  • Vision Problems Among Older Australians 2005

• Macular Degeneration Foundation Research
  • Project Vision II: The Macular Degeneration Foundation Member Survey 2008
    
    
  • Macular Degeneration in Australia Report 2006

• AMD Alliance International

• National Eye Institute (US)

• Centre for the Study of MD (USA)

• Centre for Eye Research Australia