Survival Factors:
The American Foundation Fighting Blindness, the American Eye Institute and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals recently met to co-ordinate research efforts into the use of survival factors as a possible therapy for retinal degeneration. In laboratory trials, certain factors have shown the ability to delay the degeneration of photoreceptor cells. These substances are produced by the body and sustain nerve cells. The factor, Axokine, will be evaluated in human clinical trials.

Gene Therapy:
Dr Jerry Chader, Chief Scientific Officer of the American Foundation Fighting Blindness, was one of the guest speakers at the AGM of the British RP Society, held in September 1997. During his talk titled ARetinal Degeneration, turning the corner from basic to clinical studies@, Dr Chader discussed the recent advances in gene therapy and the improvement in virus delivery systems. Dr Chader said that he believed that Ahuman clinical trials could be no more than a year away@.

Gene for Cone Rod Dystrophy Found
Cone Rod Dystrophy (CORD) is a retinal condition which usually starts with central vision loss before the age of ten, followed by night blindness around the age of 20. Loss of side vision adds to the problem and patients have generally very little vision after the age of 50. CORD was previously mapped to chromosomes 5, 17, 18 and 19. A collaborative team from America, Canada and Britain have isolated one form of the condition, CORD2, to chromosome 19. This gene, the CRX gene produces a protein which regulates the development of photoreceptor cells at the embryo stage. The faulty CRX gene interferes with this process creating abnormal photoreceptor cells with reduced function.

Future Pace of Research
The American Foundation Fighting Blindness committed a record amount of $9 million to research in 1997. They have designed an aggressive 5 year research plan to ensure that every possible research avenue is explored. To fund this they need to raise $55 million for research over this 5 year period.

South African Research
The gene tracking project at the University of Cape Town continues to screen local families for known gene mutations. They are also continuing their investigation of novel RP genes localised to chromosome 17p and q. A record amount of funding for this project has been pledged by the branches for the financial year ending March 1998.

In the last 2 years, we have seen tremendous progress in all forms of research into retinal degeneration. The discovery last year of a gene mutation linked to Age-Related Macular Degeneration, re-affirms our commitment to find the answers to all forms of retinal degeneration. Now when hope is more than a mere pipe dream, we need the active support of all families affected by retinal degenerative conditions. Can you help?