Macular Degeneration Clinical Trials

The most current information for macular degeneration studies is easy to access.

The website www.ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry of federally and privately supported studies conducted in the United States and around the world.

ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's:

purpose, who may participate,

locations, and

phone numbers for more details.

This information should be used in conjunction with advice from your health care professionals.

As of January 2017 there are 254 open studies for macular degeneration listed on the clinicaltrials.gov website in over 150 different countries.

Autologous Stem Cell Studies for AMD - California

Autologous stem cells are immature cells that come from the patient's own bone marrow or peripheral blood. Once these stem cells are collected they are then injected into the eye. There are currently three active clinical trials looking at the safety and feasibility of adult stem cell injections for the treatment of a variety of retinal conditions, including macular degeneration.

The three study locations are University of California, Davis, Retina Associates of South Florida and University of Sao Paulo.

The University of California study they are seeking patients who have irreversible vision loss from retinal eye diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion. Patients must be 18 or older. For more info go to the clinicaltrials.gov website here:

Clinical Trial of Autologous Intravitreal Bone-marrow CD34+ Stem Cells for Retinopathy

Autolgous Stem Cell Research - Florida

Jeffrey Weiss, M.D. of Retinal Associates of South Florida is the principal investigator for this study that is seeking patients with vision loss due to a variety of eye conditions such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, stargardt, post retinal detachment as well as those with optic nerve damage from glaucoma, ischemic optic neuropathy, or optic atrophy.

To find out how to contact those responsible for this research go to:

Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS)

Clinical Trial Phases

Clinical trials are categorized by phases. Their are four phases with Phase I clinical trials testing mostly for safety and toxicity.

You will find the phase listed in the Purpose section of the clinical trials in a box with these labels - Condition, Intervention and Phase.

If you are considering a clinical trial it is a good idea to know about the different phases and what phase the clinical trial is in before you agree to participate - especially a Phase I study. In this phase of testing a new drug or treatment the study is evaluating its safety and determining any possible side effects.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health study phases are defined below:

Phase I

In phase I clinical trials, researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people (20-80) for the first time to evaluate:

√ its safety

√ determine a safe dosage range

√ and identify side effects.

Phase II

In Phase II clinical trials, the study drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people (100-300) to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.

Phase III

In this phase clinical trial, the study drug or treatment is given to larger groups of people (1,000-3,000):

√ to confirm its effectiveness

√ monitor side effects

√ compare it to commonly used treatments

√ and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely

Phase IV

In Phase IV clinical trials, post marketing studies delineate additional information including the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use.

These phases are defined by the Food and Drug Administration in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Proton Radiation Therapy for Macular Degeneration

For those who receive regular eye injections for the treatment of their wet AMD, any research that may lead to less frequent trips to the doctor and less injections into the eye is most surely welcome.

The use of proton radiation therapy is a Phase I study at the University of Florida. Participants will receive radiation using protons for 2 consecutive days. Each treatment will take 30 minutes.

Eligible patients must be over the age of 50 with macular degeneration, who have subfoveal wet AMD and have had prior treatment with Avastin or Lucentis.

Other purposes of the study include:

1) See if the growth of neovascular membranes can be stopped

2) If vision can be improved with proton radiation

3) Assess the side effects associated with this treatment

Proton Radiation Therapy for Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration Research - Prevention and Genetics

The Jules Stein Eye Institue in Los Angeles, California is conducting a genetics study for age related macular degeneration.

This study hopes to "learn how to apply new genetic discoveries for future generations and to better counsel and develop preventive therapies for those who are at an increased risk .."

My husband and I are participating in this study even though we live in Atlanta. To find out if you or a family member are eligible for this study and what all is involved click here:

Macular Degeneration Research - Prevention and Genetics

Gene therapy

This is a Phase I study being conducted at two study sites - Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and in Portland, Oregon.

Patients must be 50 years old or older and have wet macular degeneration with active bleeding.

Patients will receive a subretinally injection of RetinoStat, a type of gene therapy. The study will be assessing safety and monitoring patients for any adverse affects.

Safety Study of RetinoStat in Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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