Contents - Welcome to the 20th Retina International World...

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Retina 2018 | Auckland, New Zealand | 1 AUCKLAND, NZ | February 7 -11, 2018 RETINA 2018

Transcript of Contents - Welcome to the 20th Retina International World...

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AUCKLAND, NZ | February 7 -11, 2018 RETINA 2018

ContentsWelcome – Page 3

People – Page 4

General Information – Page 7

Accessibility Information – Page 9

Venue Maps – Page 11

Social Information – Page 13

Programme – Page 14

Speakers – Page 18

Sponsors – Page 25

Sponsor Advertisements – Page 27

Tour Information – Page 29

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Welcome to the 20th Retina International World CongressOn behalf of the local organising committee team, we welcome you to Auckland, the pacific meeting place and look forward to you being part of something unique and unforgettable.

Being part of a Retina International World Congress is an optimistic and inspirational experience generated by bringing together some of the world’s foremost retinal scientists and clinicians along with the global leaders in patient advocacy and peer support.

Retina 2018 New Zealand will offer patients and their families, clinicians, rehabilitation professionals, students and anyone with an interest in retinal disorders with interactive learning and networking opportunities that include short scientific presentations, expert panels, treatment approach plenaries and social events.

Our aim is to create the best educational environment possible. You will find information on the key contributors on page 18 of the handbook. These contributors include the most acclaimed experts in biomedical research, clinical practice, rehabilitation best practice in blindness and world leaders in effective peer support methodologies and treatment advocacy.

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PeopleThe local organising committee for the congress includes:

Fraser AlexanderFraser Alexander has served on the Retina International Management Committee since 2006. He was a member of the Retina NZ Executive Committee 1998-2016, holding the office of president 2007- 2016. Fraser holds a BSc in Pharmacology and Chemistry from the University of Auckland and a Masters Degree in Business with honours from the Auckland University of Technology. His current role involves working with people who have included the University of Auckland in their will, by helping to form mutually-beneficial relationships between bequestors and the University.

Hutokshi Chinoy Hutokshi Chinoy is the Chief Administrator of the New Zealand National Eye Centre, which encompasses more than 120 ophthalmologists, vision scientists, optometrists and research staff. She also provides secretarial and administrative support to the Head of Department of Ophthalmology and senior academic staff at the University of Auckland. She has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has been working in the ophthalmology department since 2004. She has been involved in coordinating and organising national and international scientific conferences and research seminars.

Professor Colin R GreenCell biologist Colin Green obtained his PhD at the University of Auckland in 1980, then worked for 12 years in England, France and the United States before returning to New Zealand in 1993. He obtained his DSc in 1997 and a Personal Chair in Anatomy with Radiology at The University of Auckland in 2004. In 2005 he became the inaugural W & B Hadden Chair of Ophthalmology and Translational Vision Research. He has published over 160 research articles with two papers in Nature and one in Science. In 2004 he co-founded CoDaTherapeutics (NZ) Ltd where he remains Chairman. In 2006 he went on to co-found CoDa Therapeutics, Inc. San Diego, where he was on the

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board of directors until July 2012. During his time on the board the company raised US$70 Million to translate Colin’s gap junction channel modulation work into clinical application. Colin’s focus is on gap junction channel modulation for the treatment of chronic and inflammatory disease conditions in the eye and central nervous system, and the development of a new approach to cancer therapy.

Professor Charles McGheeCharles McGhee graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Science in 1981, before completing his medical degree at the University of Glasgow in 1983. He went on to obtain a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (FRCS) in Ophthalmology in 1988, an FRCOphth in 1989, and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Dundee in 1989. He was awarded the FRANZCO in 1999, and became a Doctor of Science by Thesis (DSc) at the University of Auckland in 2014.

Professor McGhee has wide-ranging research interests with a focus on clinical or translational research. He is a leading expert in Corneal Disease and the treatment modalities for it. He has received more than $16,200,000 in research funding and has published more than 250 full paper and chapter publications, including three textbooks. He has been invited to give more than 100 lectures to learned societies, and has provided more than 100 free papers.

Sue RaynelSue Raynel is currently the department’s Research and Development Manager, and manager of NZ-NEC. She holds a nursing qualification as well as an MA. She has more than 20 years’ experience in ophthalmic practice, encompassing a wide range of roles in the hospital setting prior to taking up her current position at the University.  Sue has been involved in the organisation of several large nursing conferences in conjunction with the RANZCO meetings.

Associate Professor Andrea Vincent MBChB, MD, FRANZCODr Vincent is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Greenlane Eye Clinic, and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of

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Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland, having trained in New Zealand with subsequent Genetic Ophthalmology in Melbourne and Toronto. She leads an Ocular Genetic laboratory facility with research underway into the genetics of retinal and corneal dystrophies, keratoconus, glaucoma and lid abnormalities. Dr Vincent established the NZ Inherited retinal disease database which has over 500 participants, and research includes functional characterisation of novel genetic mechanisms using a zebrafish model. She has 56 publications, and 2 book chapters, is an examiner for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, on the Editorial board of Ophthalmic genetics and Orphanet Journal of rare diseases, Section Editor for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, and on the Board of the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia.

Dr Hannah KerstenHannah completed her Bachelor of Optometry degree with first class honours in 2008 and went on to work in a large community optometry practice. In 2016, Hannah completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland. Hannah’s main area of research interest is the potential role of optic nerve and retinal measures as biomarkers of disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Since 2016, Hannah has held a joint appointment as a lecturer in the School of Optometry and Vision Science, and as a Research Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology, at the University of Auckland.  Hannah’s research has been published in leading neurology journals, and she has presented the results of her research at a number of national and international conferences. In addition, Hannah continues to work in glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology co-management in private practice.

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General InformationQueriesPlease visit the registration desk in the Level 0 Foyer, Owen G Glenn Building if you have any queries, or alternatively, speak to one of our volunteers.

Catering and dietary requirementsAll catering will be served in the Level 0 Foyer, Owen G Glenn Building. Care has been taken to ensure all advised, special dietary requirements are catered to. If you specified your dietary requirements when registering, please make yourself known to the catering staff.

Name tagsPlease wear your name tag at all times during the Retina International World Congress and functions. Your name tag will serve as the ticket for any social events you have signed up for or purchased tickets for.

Wi-Fi accessWireless internet access is available for all delegates to use.

Please choose UoA-Guest-WiFi. Once you choose the network please wait for the portal page to open then you will be able to enter the credentials below.

Username: [email protected]: 8vtFh7mm

Lost propertyLost property can be directed to the registration desk and will be held there for collection until the conclusion of the conference.

Presenting authorsPlease ensure your lecture slides are on a USB and are uploaded on the lectern computer in the applicable room in advance of your time slot on the day you are scheduled to present.

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Car ParkingParking is available directly beneath the Conference Venue (Owen G Glenn Building). There is a $6 flat rate on weekends between 7am and 11pm.

Alternative pay and display parking can be located along Princes St, as well as on the corner for Alten Road/SH16 off-ramp.

Getting AroundBuses run to all parts of the Auckland region from the Britomart Transport Centre. For information on Public Transport and the best routes to take, visit at.govt.nz.

If you require a taxi, there are a host of companies to choose from, including:

Auckland Co-op Taxis (09 300 3000)Green Cabs (0800 464 7336)Discount Taxi (09 529 1000)

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Accessibility InformationWe are committed to maximising the interactive learning, networking and social experience for as many Retina 2018 New Zealand delegates as possible. We briefly detail relevant accessibility information here and encourage you to plan your weekend ahead of time by making accessibility-related enquiries to ensure the programme and facilities meet your accessibility needs. Retina 2018 New Zealand volunteers will have attended at least 1 2-hour blindness awareness training session and some are very experienced in helping people with a sight loss. If it appears to be needed, in order to make it easier for our volunteers to initiate an introduction to a guest with a sight loss, we have colour coded name tags.

ArrivalThe taxi drop off at 12 Grafton Road is a loading zone adjacent to the main entry to the Owen G Glenn Building. Visual features will assist with locating the entrance of the building.

There are bus stops on either side of Grafton Road. The buses arriving at these stops are the Outer Link and 321. For those arriving on the west side of the street they will need to walk in a northerly direction to the signalised crossing. Those arriving on the east side need to walk in a northern direction to locate the building entrance.

Volunteers will provide assistance from the 2 recommended congress hotels (Pullman Hotel and Copthorne Hotel Auckland City) and will be available to assist with locating the entry door.

Internal Environment at OGGB

Volunteers will be available at the door to accompany, offer familiarisation or give directions to locate requested spaces (i.e. registration desk, lifts, stairs, toilets/toilet layouts and lecture theatres).

Where possible, we have employed enhancements to the internal environment to assist with orientation and navigation

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e.g. colour contrast such as reflective strips on stairs, lighting and accessible room identification signage.

Please note that while allowable modifications will be made throughout the internal environment, some stairs are not aligned in a straight line and there will be steps without high contrasting nosings. We recommend requesting volunteer assistance whenever you require it - our friendly, responsive volunteers will be delighted to meet and help you.

We request that the back row of lecture theatres are only used by wheelchair users, their companions and those unable to negotiate steps.

Lunch and BreaksVolunteers will be available to assist with locating break-out sessions and accessing refreshments. In order to assist with meeting speakers and other delegates, individual coffee and tea stations will be colour coded and identified with balloons. Please enquire at registration as to the colours to be used.

Areas for toileting guide dogs are provided including water bowls. Please enquire at registration when you arrive.

Retina 2018 New Zealand is most grateful for the assistance of Carina Duke and Shiree Arian, Orientation and Mobility specialists at the Blind Foundation.

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OGGB Map

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Conference Venues Map

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Social InformationConference DinnerSaturday, 10 FebruaryFrom 6:30pm

For those who have purchased a ticket, the Conference Dinner will be held at the Pullman Hotel, Corner Princes Street and Waterloo Quadrant. It is approximately a 15-minute walk from the conference venue.

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Programme OutlineDay 1: Saturday 10 February 8:00am: Registration in level 0 Foyer, OGGB

9:00am: Welcome & Greetings in Lecture Theatre 098Mihi mihi: University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheonProfessor Andrea Vincent and Fraser Alexander, Local Organising CommitteeChristina Fasser, President, Retina International

9:30am: Keynote in Lecture Theatre 098Retinal Degenerations – A Clinical Overview, Elise Héon Sponsored by Retina Specialists

10:00am: Keynote in Lecture Theatre 098Progress in Therapy of Retinal Degeneration – The Who and the How, Eric Pierce Sponsored by The Ombler Trust

10:30am: Morning Tea in Level 0 Foyer

11:00am: Plenary 1: Genetics and Gene Therapy in Lecture Theatre 0981. Clinical diagnosis in Inherited Retinal Diseases – clues to the genetic diagnosis, Andrea Vincent2. Advances in Genetic Testing in Inherited Retinal Diseases, Alex Hewitt3. Novel/non-coding causes of Inherited Retinal Diseases, Eric Pierce4. Identifying patients for clinical trials/The logistics of undertaking a clinical trial, Jean Bennett5. Progress and lessons learned from the UK Gene Therapy Trials, Tom Edwards

1:00pm: Lunch in Level 0 Foyer

1:15pm: Free Lunchtime Seminar in Case Room 3Beyond vision loss: international perspectives on vision rehabilitation policy, The Blind Foundation

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2:00pm: Parallel Session 1Session 1A: Clinical aspects of Retinal Degenerations in Lecture Theatre OGGB41. Prevalence and inheritance of Inherited Retinal Diseases – using databases as a tool, Andrea Vincent2. Developing patient relevant outcomes in clinical trials, Elise Héon3. Paediatric low vision and supportive services, Shuan Dai4. Surgical considerations in Inherited Retinal Disease, Tom Edwards5. Treatment possibilities, Dan Chung (Spark Therapeutics)Session 1B:Clinical Aspect of AMD and other Maculopathies in Lecture Theatre 0981. Treatment advancements in AMD, Narme Deva2. Advances in Diabetic Eye Disease – clinical understanding and treatment, Rachel Barnes3. Advances in Imaging in AMD diagnosis, David Squirrell4. FRB/Patient Registries/Big Data role in evolving treatment regimens, Mark Gillies5. AMD in NZ, statistics and advocacy to optimise treatment options, Dianne Sharp

3:30pm: Afternoon Tea in Level 0 Foyer

4:00pm: Plenary 2: Stem Cells and Research Challenges in Lecture Theatre 0981. Stem Cell basics and using stem cells to model eye disease, Alice Pébay2. CRISPR gene editing in Retinal Disease, Alex Hewitt3. From treatment development to implementation – why is it taking so long, Kent Small

5:30pm: Day 1 Close

6:30pm: Conference Dinner at the Pullman Hotel

Day 2: Sunday 11 February8:00am: Registration in level 0 Foyer, OGGB

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9:00am: Plenary 3: Scientific Breaking News in Lecture Theatre 0981. Keynote: Current and Emerging Gene Therapies for Inherited Retinal Disease, Professor Jean BennettSponsored by The Ombler Trust2. ReNeuron Clinical Trial – Stem Cell base therapies, Eric Pierce3. New understandings of AMD Pathogenesis, Diane Sharp4. AMD therapeutic trials, Mark Gillies5. Robotic surgery in Inherited Retinal Disease, Tom Edwards

11:00am: Morning Tea in level 0 Foyer

11:30am: Plenary 4: Artificial Vision in Lecture Theatre 0981. Keynote: Artificial Vision – Past, Present and Future, Tom EdwardsSponsored by Fraser and Christina Alexander2. Bionic Vision Australia, Penny Allen3. Argus 2 – the surgical procedure and clinical journey, Thiran Jayasundera

1:00pm: Lunch in level 0 Foyer

1:15pm: Quantum RLV Presentation in Lecture Theatre OGGB4Latest Vision Aids and technology supporting independence, Rob Drummond, Quantum RLV

2:00pm: Parallel Session 2 (for Patients and Professionals)Session 2A: Tools and training: Who can help now and into the future? in Lecture Theatre OGGB41. Low Vision Rehabilitation – Enhancing Visual Function, Sandy Grant and Olga Brochner2. How will I read, how will I write, how will I communicate? Matt Rudland 3. Life without limits – how we enable people who are blind or have low vision to be self-reliant and live the life they choose, The Blind Foundation4. Advanced and future technologies in blindness and low vision – what do we want and why? Jonathan MosenSession 2B: Independence and self-determination – are the barriers real? in Lecture Theatre OGGB5

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1. Leadership in a sighted world, Robert Greenberg2. Travelling with a sight loss – an interactive panel session, Avril Daly, Fraser Alexander, Tony Haas and Zane Bartlett3. Parents’ Perspectives, Tim Corbett4. Learned in the law, David Heaney QCSession 2C: Educational Session for Healthcare Professionals and Vision Scientists in Lecture Theatre 098Accredited course for early career and general medical practitioners, Optometrists, Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Professionals1. Syndromic Retinal Degenerations, Elise Héon2. Surgery in Artificial Vision, Penny Allen3. Diabetic Eye Disease – optimising vision in 2018, Rachel Barnes4. Stem Cells, Alice Pébay5. Advances in drug delivery to the retina, Ilva Rupenthal

3:30pm: Keynote in Lecture Theatre 098What Have We Learned? Gerald ChaderSponsored by The Ombler Trust

4:20pm: Closing Remarks in Lecture Theatre 098Christina Fasser and Avril Daly, Retina InternationalFraser Alexander – convenor, Local Organising CommitteeCongress Handover – Icelandic Blind Society and Retina 2020 in Reykjavik

5:00pm: Day 2 close

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SpeakersPenny Allen

Assoc Prof Allen received a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1986 from the University of Melbourne and specialised in Ophthalmology. She then sub-specialised in Vitreoretinal surgery and Medical Retina, completing fellowships at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Assoc Prof Allen was the lead surgeon for Bionic Vision Australia and Research Fellow at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, with clinical appointments at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and the Alfred Hospital. She holds an honorary research associate position with the Bionics Institute.Assoc Prof Allen was a PI on the Australian Research Council (ARC) through its Special Research Initiative in Bionic Vision Science and Technology grant to Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) and has ongoing research support from the NHMRC, ORIA and the CASS foundation.Assoc Prof Allen was key to the developing the surgical technique for the suprachoroidal retinal prosthesis, resulting in the first clinical trial of this device in three human patients. This collaboration has resulted in 2 licenced patents. Acknowledgement of this was her inclusion in the shortlist for an Australian Eureka prize for interdisciplinary research. Dr Allen’s research and publications on endophthalmitis have resulted in the development of protocols for the management of endophthalmitis at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and also resulted in a strategy to reduce the incidence of endogenous endophthalmitis in injecting drug users that was utilised across Victoria. In addition she was asked to advise regarding the endophthalmitis guidelines for the Epworth Hospital.

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Jean Bennett

Jean Bennett, MD, PhD, the F.M. Kirby Professor of Ophthalmology, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, and Co-Director of the Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She has developed gene transfer approaches to test treatment strategies for retinal degenerative and ocular neovascular diseases, to elucidate retinal differentiation pathways and to identify pathogenetic mechanisms that lead to blindness.  Her research with Dr. Albert Maguire, conducted at UPenn over the past 25 years, has established the scientific underpinnings which made it possible to test the first potential definitive retinal gene therapy treatment for patients with blinding retinal degenerations. Dr. Bennett’s Center continues to work hard to develop treatments that could be applied to other genetic and acquired blinding conditions.

Gerald Chader

Dr. Chader began his research career as an Andelot Fellow in the Dept. of Biological Chemistry at Harvard Medical School. He is now affiliated with the Department of Ophthalmology and Roski Eye Institute of the Keck School of Medicine at USC.

Academically, Dr. Chader specializes in vision research, focusing on the neural retina. His goal is to find practicable ways to bring preventions, treatments and cures to patients with untreated or

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poorly treated eye diseases such as the inherited retinal degenerations. At USC, he has worked with the team that has recently brought an electronic retinal implant (Artificial Vision) to approval for implantation in patients with inherited retinal degenerative diseases. He has served as Executive Director of the California Project to Cure Blindness, a consortium of investigators now testing the use of stem cells in treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration and other retinal degenerations in a clinical trial.

Thomas Edwards

Tom Edwards, Ph.D. is a vitreoretinal surgeon with an interest in inherited retinal degenerations. He undertook a PhD at the University of Cambridge (UK) before completing his ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH). He has recently returned from a fellowship under Prof Robert MacLaren in the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford (UK). He is involved in a number of ongoing research projects, including retinal gene therapy and the use of an electronic retinal implant for partial restoration of vision in advanced retinitis pigmentosa. He is now based at the RVEEH and the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) in Melbourne, Australia.

Mark Gillies

Professor Mark Gillies is a clinician-scientist who is Director of Research, Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney. The Macula

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Research Group’s (MRG) Clinical Research Unit has conducted several major investigator-initiated randomized clinical trials, including the first to demonstrate the efficacy of intraocular steroid injections for any ophthalmic disease. The MRG’s Observational Studies Unit has developed internet-based software to track the outcomes of treatment of macular disease. The main interests of the MRG’s laboratory include the relationships between retinal glia and neurons in retinal disease with particular interest in outer retinal metabolism. Mark was a founder member and for many years the Chair of the Scientific Executive Committee of the MacTel Project.

Elise Héon

Dr. Héon is a Clinician-Scientist in the field of Ocular Genetics, Director of the Eye Genetics Program and Senior Associate Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in the program of Genetics and Genomics Biology. Her laboratory, supported by peer-reviewed grants, is involved in the genetic analysis of inherited eye disorders such retinal dystrophies most specifically.

Her clinical work focuses on the management of hereditary eye diseases, which include hereditary cancer (retinoblastoma) and other non-cancerous blinding conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa. Dr. Héon’s role as Director of the Ocular Genetics program is to ensure that patients are provided with state of the art global care. This program is unique in Canada and part of only a few in the world. Through her research Dr. Héon works to better understand disease characteristics and mechanisms with the goal of improving outcome and quality of life of patients.

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Alex Hewitt

Associate Professor Alex Hewitt is a Principal Research Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research and the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania, as well as a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Eye Research Australia. He is supported by a NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship and his major research interest lie in the ophthalmic applications of stem cell and gene-editing technology. Alex obtained his PhD investigating the molecular and phenotypic associations for glaucoma from Flinders University of South Australia in 2009, and completed formal Ophthalmology training at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital two years later. After undertaking a fellowship in inherited eye diseases at the Lions Eye Institute in Perth, Alex returned to Melbourne and with A/Prof Alice Pébay commenced the large-scale banking of cell lines from patients with and without a variety of eye diseases. Together they have established a laboratory for automated processing of induced pluripotent stem cells. In 2014, Alex expanded his laboratory to Hobart, where his team have been applying CRISPR/Cas-gene editing technology to better understand and treat inherited eye diseases.

Alice Pébay

Associate Professor Alice Pébay obtained her PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Paris VI in 2001 and subsequently joined Professor Martin Pera at Monash University to undertake research

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on human pluripotent stem cells. She then continued her research in this area at the University of Melbourne where she commenced in 2007. Since 2012, Alice has been appointed to both the Centre for Eye Research Australia and The University of Melbourne. There she is the head of the Neuroregeneration Research Unit, which aims to use patient specific stem cells to model blinding diseases. Alice was awarded a NHMRC Career development Fellowship in 2012 and subsequently an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship in 2014. Alice is the primary inventor of three granted international patents related to stem cell technology and neurotrauma.

Eric A. Pierce

Eric A. Pierce, M.D., Ph.D. is the Solman and Libe Friedman Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Ocular Genomics Institute, Director of the Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations, and Director of the Inherited Retinal Disorders Service in the Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School.  Dr. Pierce received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School.  He did his residency in Ophthalmology at Harvard and fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital, Boston where he also took his first faculty position.  He was then recruited to the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.  He returned to Harvard in 2011 to establish the Ocular Genomics Institute.  He became Director of the Berman-Gund Laboratory and Inherited Retinal Disorders Service in 2014.  His research program is focused on understanding the molecular bases of inherited retinal degenerations, and developing gene and genetic therapies for these conditions.  He and his colleagues are also doing several clinical trials of gene and stem cell therapies for inherited retinal disorders.

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Other presenters

Rachel BarnesOlga BrochnerDaniel ChungTim CorbettZoe CosgroveShuan DaiNarme DevaSandy GrantRobert GreenbergDavid HeaneyThiran JayasunderaNaomi MeltzerJonathan MosenMatt RudlandIlva RupenthalDianne SharpKen SmallDavid SquirrellAndrea Vincent

For further information (photo and biographies) of the above speakers, visit http://retina2018newzealand.com/speakers/

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SponsorsThank you to our major sponsors:

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Sponsors

 

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ToursExclusive Tours LimitedFor Monday 12th February, for Retina International delegates and all those staying on in Auckland after the Public Congress, we recommend the following two tour options:

Auckland Sightseeing TourDuration: 2 hoursTimings: 8:30am to 11:30am

8:45am to 9:30am: history/vulcanology presentation at Michael Joseph Savage Memorial.

9:45am to 11:00am: an interactive guided walking tour focusing on the Auckland University Old Arts Building (history/buildings/architecture etc) and Albert Park tour (history/trees of note/statues/gardens etc) for 75 minutes.

11:15am to 11:30am: drive to Auckland ferry terminal.

Per person price $60.00 (based on a minimum of 50 guests).(Per person price includes coach transport, tour guides for coach tour and walking tour for 75 minutes guided walking tour and New Zealand Goods and Services Tax at 15%).

Waiheke Island TourDuration: approx. 6 hoursTimings: 12:00pm to 6:00pm

11:15am – coach departs from University of Auckland Conference Centre bound for Auckland ferry terminal.

11:30am – Auckland sightseeing tour guests arrive at Auckland ferry terminal.

12:00pm – ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island. Guests to eat their picnic lunches on board ferry.

12:40pm – ferry arrives at Waiheke Island. Commence sightseeing tour of Waiheke Island. Includes a visit to Island Gelato for icecreams, Goldie Estate for wine tasting and Rangihoua Estate for olive oil tasting.

Per person price $260.00 (based on a minimum of 50 guests).(Per person price includes transport at 11.15 am from The University of Auckland Conference Centre (or ex Auckland sightseeing tour coaches), round trip Waiheke Island ferry tickets,

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3 tours managers, picnic lunch to eat on ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island, coach transport (drivers doing commentary) on Waiheke Island, tour managers on Waiheke Island, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, ice creams, transfer from Auckland ferry terminal to Auckland city centre hotels and New Zealand Goods and Services Tax at 15%).

Exclusive Tours Limited will be operating a Sightseeing/Tour Desk at the conference venue and the desk will be manned for the same hours that the conference registration desk will be open.

If you require any Auckland sightseeing or New Zealand tour information and or bookings please visit the Sightseeing/Tour Desk.

Ability Adventures – Enabled New Zealand HolidaysNew Zealand is one of the top holiday destinations in the world and we’d love to share it with you!  Our small South Pacific country of around 4.5 million people offers travellers of all abilities an amazing experience – diverse natural splendours, vibrant multi-cultural society, warm friendly people, pleasant climate – all in relatively close proximity and in an environment which offers safe and easy travel.

Ability Adventures was founded in 2008 by Marina Hanger, an Occupational Therapist with more than 30 years’ experience in working with people who experience disability.  She was most recently involved in planning and leading wilderness, adventure and personal development programmes within New Zealand for those who are blind or have low vision.  In addition Marina has 15 years’ experience in the tourism industry having, in the mid-

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1980s, co-founded one of New Zealand’s first eco-tourism companies.

Holidays are tailored to your specifications of timing, duration, activities, budget, pace, style, and personal needs. Let us know the sort of holiday you’re after, and we’ll put together a package to suit.

Contact us now to begin planning your New Zealand holiday adventure.

Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.abilityadventures.co.nzPhone:  (+64) 27 324 0003Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbilityAdventures/

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