Clinical research

Concerned diseases

The pathologies supported in clinical research by our department equipe are currently:

• Age-related maculopathy (AM),
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (both the wet and the exudative forms, the serious complications like macular hematoma are accommodated as well),
• Retinal venous occlusions,
• Diabetic macular edema (DME),
• Pathologic myopia and their complications,
• Stargardt's disease,
• Leber's congenital amaurosis (in our centre we make use of innovative gene therapy).

The clinical research is conducted by means of scientific studies protocols. They are both observational (regular monitoring of the patient without any intervention) and/or interventional.

A preferential care path

The patient journey consists of several stages.

First of all, the clinical research assistant (CRA) proposes to the patient to be cared as part of a research protocol program, that is to say that they are going to be treated while benefiting from a privileged route and the best treatments available.

The CRA explains in details the protocol strategy to the patient. Then both a physician and a CRA are prone to answer all of the patient's questions.  Only at that point an informed consent is signed by the patient.

The ARCs shall accompany the patient along the entire care path. This consists of a series of regular visits and follow ups. Each visit is divided into three parts:

1. Visual acuity and retinal imaging (OCT, fundus photo, ocular tension)
2. Medical examination and treatment safety and efficacy check.
3. Therapy and post treatment visit.

At the end of this medical journey the patient can return home and another appointment is scheduled in order to allow a regular follow up.

The clinical research staff