EVENT:
  Raine Lecture
  - Molecular Genetics of Glaucoma:  Hopes for Better Management
		
Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:00 - The McCusker Auditorium, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Campus
		
Professor Wallace L M Alward, MD
Professor Alward is primarily a glaucoma clinician. His areas of
research interest include pigmentary glaucoma, combined glaucoma and
cataract surgery, normal tension glaucoma, and gonioscopy. The major
focus of his research over more than two decades has been the molecular
genetics of glaucoma. Professor Alward was part of the team that in 1993
described the first genetic linkage for open angle glaucoma (GLC1A).
Subsequently, in a 1997 Science paper, they reported that mutations in
the myocilin gene at the GLC1A locus caused juvenile glaucoma and 3 – 5%
of adult onset open angle glaucoma.

Professor Alward will discuss the discovery of the myocilin gene and how
this finding might influence the clinical management of glaucoma
patients. It is a story that travels from an individual patient to
treatments that might be used for his children and grandchildren. He
will touch on presymptomatic molecular diagnosis, gene replacement
therapy and stem cells, but will focus on “small molecule therapy” -
developing drugs to treat a specific underlying molecular defect. The
hope is that this will lead to treatments that are more effective, more
specific and longer lasting.
		
For more information:
  Hilary Salisbury
  HSalisbury@lei.org.au
  9381 0777

Starts       : Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:00
Ends         : Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:30
		
Last Updated : Tue, 19 Aug 2014 10:30