Nineteen scientists from the Vision Research Foundation participated at the 18th Indian Eye Research Group (IERG) meeting at Hyderabad held from July 31 to August 1, 2010.
Held from 1992, the annual IERG meeting brings together investigators involved in different areas of basic and clinical eye research across India to discuss the latest research methodologies and current trends in ophthalmology.
The two-day meeting included oral presentations on Gene and Cell based therapy, Community Eye Health, Cornea and Lens, Glaucoma and Retina and numerous poster presentations. Talks and papers, presented by researchers, on ocular stem cells, lens crystallines, age-related macular degeneration were very informative.
Dr. S Krishna Kumar, Head of Department, Ocular Pathology, gave a talk on “Epcam, Myself, Retinoblastoma and the Continuing Journey;” Dr. Ronnie George, Senior Consultant, Glaucoma, spoke on “Population based studies: implications for Glaucoma Care in India,” and Dr. LS Vardharajan spoke on “Models of Amblyopic Vision.”
One of the highlights of the meeting was the talk given by Abraham Scaria from Genzyme on “Gene Therapy for the treatment of Wet-AMD.”
Dr. Namperumalswamy, Chairman, Aravind Eye Care Centre, Dr. G. N. Rao, Founder, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute and Dr. SS Badrinath, Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya, were honored with mementos for their monumental work on clinical eye research and their service.
In the validation ceremony, it was announced that IERG will unite with ARVO (India chapter) and will be called as IERG –ARVO.