Glaucoma Foundation Holds Third Scientific Think Tank On Exfoliation Syndrome

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Oct 22, 2014, 12:38 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Glaucoma Foundation's recently concluded 2014 International Scientific Think Tank was TGF's third consecutive annual gathering to focus on exfoliation syndrome (XFS), an age-related systemic disease characterized by the production and accumulation of a whitish material in many ocular as well as non-ocular tissues.

Three years ago TGF made a decision to devote its efforts to curing exfoliation syndrome. Worldwide, XFS is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma, comprising the majority of glaucoma in some countries.

More than 40 scientists and glaucoma clinicians from research institutions throughout the US and from Canada, Japan and Singapore gathered in New York to participate in the intensive two-day meeting. "As a result of this new focus we have significantly increased the number of people who are working in this disease and areas relating to this disease," said Robert Ritch, MD, The Glaucoma Foundation's Medical Director and Think Tank organizer, "We have gained more professional awareness and in the last three years have probably tripled the number of people doing research in this field."

Coming out of these Think Tanks, several working groups have been continuing the conversations begun there, focusing on four different facets of exfoliation. One is looking at genetics and genomics, at gene environment and gene interactions. A second group is working on biomarkers – looking for characteristic molecules, looking at what molecules or compounds are elevated or decreased in the eye with XFS and systemic molecules or systemic markers that we can detect, even for a blood test for XFS. Another group is working on animal models, finding ways to create better models. And a fourth group is trying to explore further the mechanism in the production of exfoliation material by the cells in the eye, and growing cells in three-dimensional tissue culture to try to harvest exfoliation material.

TGF's research grants program is now solely funding projects aimed at furthering these efforts. Since 2013, The Foundation has raised some 2 million dollars to support this initiative.

The Glaucoma Foundation (www.glaucomafoundation.org) is a premier not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a cure for glaucoma through innovative research and collaboration.

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SOURCE The Glaucoma Foundation