Cross-sectional Sessions

(all times shown are MT)

Monday, May 4 (3 - 4:45 pm)

Low vision research: What’s next? (LV)

Speakers: Gordon Legge; Cynthia Owsley; Gislin Dagnelie; Dawn DeCarlo; Don Fletcher

Description:

Low vision refers to visual impairment that can’t (yet) be corrected or cured. Low vision research involves a spectrum that covers a heterogeneous group of individuals with different diagnoses and severity of vision loss. Clinicians, therapists, and researchers in this field address broad aspects of everyday life so that individuals with vision loss can remain active in the activities they enjoy, feel safe in their environments, and accomplish their life goals. As eye care and technology advance, there are new challenges and opportunities in low vision research. Every now and then, we need to look at the big picture.  Reading and driving have been long-standing topics of interest in our field. Where are we now with these endeavors? As sight-restoring therapies keep advancing, how can the low vision field connect with these therapies in measuring success? Have we paid enough attention to children with vision loss and the mental health of those with vision loss? Do we need new definitions of “vision rehabilitation”? And for the young generation joining the low vision research community, what are the career options and secrets for success in this path? The purpose of this seminar is to discuss urgent gaps and motivate new ideas around low vision research.

Tuesday, May 5 (3:30 - 5:15 pm)

Advanced imaging methods for imaging organoids of ocular tissues (MOI)

Speakers: Brian Ballios; Kayvan Samimi; Anna Duarri; Xinyi Su; Shaohua Pi; Rodrigo Melendez Garcia

Description:

Organoids of human ocular tissues are three-dimensional, lab-grown structures derived from induced pluripotent stem cells or adult cells, which recapitulate the layered architecture and diverse cell types of the eye. These organoid systems provide powerful platforms for studying the morphology, physiology, and metabolism of ocular tissues, modeling ocular diseases, testing novel drugs and therapies, and advancing regenerative medicine. This session will highlight:

• Recent advances in imaging techniques for characterizing the growth, maturation, or function of ocular tissue organoids.

• Novel imaging modalities and computational approaches, including the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to enhance data analysis and interpretation.

• Emerging methods to monitor retinal organoids in inherited retinal disease models, which enables experimental studies of disease development and therapeutic intervention. Presentations in this session will showcase the latest innovations at the intersection of imaging, computational analysis, and organoid biology, underscoring their potential to transform vision science and translational research.

Wednesday, May 6 (2 - 3:45 pm)

Vision for all: Unlocking the power of genetic diversity in eye research (GEN)

Speakers: Andrea Vincent; Petra Liskova; Jessica Cooke Bailey; Hailiang Huang; Stuart MacGregor; Jamie Craig

Description:

Genomic research is transforming our understanding of ocular health and disease, enabling the discovery of new disease mechanisms, new therapeutic targets, and improved diagnostic and prognostic tools. Yet, genetic studies of ophthalmic diseases have historically been centered on European ancestry cohorts, limiting the generalizability and translational value of findings for other populations in which eye disease burden is high. In recent years, greater strides have been made to increase population diversity in genomic studies of inherited eye disorders and common eye diseases and to prioritize multi-ancestry designs by leveraging large population-based biobanks.

This session will (i) highlight advances from genomic studies of underrepresented and admixed populations for rare and common eye diseases; (ii) present state-of-the-art methodologies that analyze multi-ancestry genomes and address the genetic architecture complexity of diverse and admixed populations; and (iii) discuss the value of broadening ancestral representation in genomic studies to enhance genetic discovery and risk prediction, and to enable personalized and equitable eye care.