Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
`
`Winter/Spring 2008
`
`Message from the President
`We can all be advocates for vision research
`W hat matters most to ARVO
`page 2). Any country may organize an
`affiliate under the ARVO flag, meeting
`annually, stimulating collaboration among
`scientists and educating their own govern-
`ments and industry about the importance
`of eye and vision research.
`Around the world, funding will
`improve when we all become advocates for
`eye research. We will only be able
`to achieve our goal — to prevent
`or cure eye disorders — when we
`have adequate research money.
`ARVO can support all of us in
`that endeavour, and you can help.
`As one year ends and another
`starts, consider a last-minute
`donation. Perhaps the ARVO
`Foundation for Eye Research
`(AFER; see page 18) can be your
`goal: it helps young researchers attend
`the ARVO Annual Meeting and supports
`the careers of clinician-scientists. In the
`future, AFER will stimulate collaboration
`between developing countries and estab-
`lished laboratories. The great man behind
`AFER, John Dowling, will be honored
`at the 2008 Annual Meeting (see page
`18), and the work of the Foundation will
`continue to expand.
`You would not have been able to read
`this if you could not see. Vision is valu-
`able, and worthy of our efforts to persevere
`in research until we achieve our goal of
`preventing blindness. n
`
` members?
`A recent survey among members
`showed that obtaining money for research
`is No. 1 on the “problem” list, no mat-
`ter where our members are located.
`Convincing government agencies,
`industry and private individuals that eye
`research is essential is one of
`ARVO’s key roles.
`In the US, ARVO helps sup-
`port two great vision research
`education groups: the National
`Alliance for Eye and Vision
`Research (NAEVR) and the
`Alliance for Eye and Vision
`Research (AEVR).
`These groups organize
`briefings on Capitol Hill in
`Washington, DC as well as visits for
`ARVO trustees and Annual Meeting
`Program Committee members to
`the offices of legislators. They help
`ARVO members and others educate
`Congressional staff about eye research
`and the importance of increased funding.
`NAEVR actively supports legislation that
`broadens the pool of funding available to
`vision researchers.
`In other countries, the ARVO name
`can help to bring in money from industry
`or government just as it does in the US.
`ARVO members are currently building
`a network of international chapters (see
`
`Martine J. Jager,
`MD, PhD
`
`Despite funding disappointment, US Congress
`hears vision community
`A lthough the omnibus spending bill
`
` passed by Congress on December 19
`essentially failed to increase funding for
`NIH’s National Eye Institute, the vision
`community still had an influence.
`“We were very disappointed by what
`amounts to a net decrease in funding for
`NEI after inflation,” said James Jorkasky of
`
`the National Alliance for Eye and Vision
`Research. “But the vision advocacy com-
`munity should be proud that its message
`about the value of medical research was
`heard by Congress.” He was referring
`to the NIH budget increase originally
`included in the FY2008 Labor, Health
`
`See Bill, page 
`
`Check out your
`ARVO 2008
`Meeting Preview
`enclosed
`
`Lenworth Johnson
`is making a difference
`page 9
`
`Robert Frank speaks out
`about IOVS
`
`page 16
`
`Hosts needed for visiting
`researchers
`
`page 19
`
`In this issue …
`
`2
`Governance
`5
`NEI Director’s Message
`6
`Around the Globe
`6
`Education Programs
`8
`Advocacy
`14
`Awards and Grants
`15
`JOV
`16
`IOVS
`The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research 18
`
`CELLTRION - EXHIBIT 1058
`
`

`

`GOVERNANCE
`
`Proposed Bylaws Amendment:
`Updating Section Trustee nomination process
`
`Background: In 2005, ARVO began taking Section Trustee nominations in advance
`
`of the Section Business Meetings held each year at the Annual Meeting. The aim
`was to increase the number of candidates on the ballot. Members also could nominate
`candidates at the Business Meeting itself. Since then, the number of advance nomina-
`tions has increased.
`The proposal: The Board of Trustees would like to further streamline this process,
`and is proposing to amend the bylaws to adopt online-only, advance nominations.
`Section candidates would be announced at the Section Business Meetings. This new
`procedure would be implemented in January 2009.
`The vote on the proposed amendment will take place at the General Business
`Meeting at the 2008 Annual Meeting.
`Amendments to the ARVO bylaws require 100 votes, so we strongly encourage
`you to attend the 2008 General Business Meeting on Wednesday, April 30, in Fort
`Lauderdale and have your say.
`The proposed amendment is as follows:
` 5.03 Election. (a) Nomination of Trustees. During the course of each Annual Meeting
`of ARVO, each Scientific Section of ARVO shall hold a separate business meeting. By
`the end of the first day of the ARVO Annual Meeting, At the separate business meeting,
`each standing Scientific Section whose Trustee’s term of office will expire at the end of
`the following year’s Annual Meeting shall nominate by online vote no more than two (2)
`candidates. The two candidates will be announced at the separate business meeting. o
`One of whom candidate will be elected as the Successor Trustee by an online electronic
`election prior to the following year’s Scientific Section’s separate business meeting, which
`will take place at the Annual Meeting. n
`
`AP and GL members: First all-online election
`T he Board of Trustees elections go to all-electronic voting for the first time this
`
` spring, as voting members of Anatomy/Pathology (AP) and Glaucoma (GL)
`Sections go to the polls via the Internet. The new voting procedures were adopted
`last year to help make the Trustee elections as accessible and representative as pos-
`sible (see Section 5.04 of the Bylaws on www.arvo.org for details).
`Every vote counts — so if you are a voting member (Regular, Family, Sustaining,
`Life and Family Life), make sure you have your say in your Section’s leadership!
`Voting opens March 17. Watch your e-mail and www.arvo.org for candidate bios
`and voting instructions. We will announce the results at the Section Business
`Meetings during the 2008 Annual Meeting.
`The AP and GL Sections have each nominated two candidates to stand in the
`2008 Board of Trustees elections. n
`
`GL Section
`
`AP Section
`
`Hans Grossniklaus,
`MD, MBA
`Emory University
`School of Medicine
`Atlanta, GA
`
`Jacob Pe’er, MD
`Hadassah-Hebrew
`University Medical
`Center
`Jerusalem, Israel
`
`Peng T. Khaw, MD,
`PhD
`Moorfields Eye
`Hospital
`London, England
`
`Louis R. Pasquale, MD
`Massachusetts Eye and
`Ear Infirmary
`Boston, MA
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`2007–2008
`Officers
`
`Martine J. Jager, MD, PhD
`President
`
`Robert Ritch, MD
`Vice President
`
`Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD
`President-Elect
`
`Donald C. Hood, PhD
`Vice President-Elect
`
`Barry S. Winkler, PhD
`Vice President-Elect
`
`Sally S. Atherton, PhD
`Executive Vice President
`
`ArVO Office
`
`Joanne G. Angle
`Executive Director
`
`Joanne Olson
`Assistant Director of Communications
`
`John Saville
`Production & Design Director
`
`12300 Twinbrook Parkway
`Suite 250
`Rockville, MD 20852-1606
`Phone: +1.240.221.2900
`Fax: +1.240.221.0370
`www.arvo.org
`
`International chapter
`affiliate program to
`expand
`A fter a successful 18-month pilot,
`
` ARVO is inviting members in other
`countries to join Argentina, Brazil, Israel
`and Hungary in creating international
`chapter affiliates. To find out more, down-
`load the ARVO Chapter Affiliate Start-
`Up Manual from the Global Activities
`section at www.arvo.org. This pdf manual
`includes eligibility requirements and an
`online application form. n
`
`2
`
`ARVONews Winter/Spring 2008
`
`

`

`Allergan Eye Care is focused on the future, and on
`the unlimited possibilities in sight. For more than
`five decades we’ve helped shape the landscape of
`eye care. We will continue to pursue research
`and development that address the field of vision,
`never losing sight of all the lives we can touch
`along the way.
`
`©2006 Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA 92612 www.allergan.com
`APC101762006 605979
`
`Tue Nov 28 02:20:02 PST 2006 - 522145_ARVO_IOV.ps
`
`
`
`

`

`Strategic planning initiative: ARVO redefines vision and goals
`E very five years, ARVO leaders look back at where the asso-
`
`tional forum for vision research and the primary advocate for
`vision science worldwide
`
`GOVERNANCE
`
` ciation has been and where we should be going — otherwise
`known as the Strategic Planning Initiative.
`In October 2007, the Strategic Planning Group met in
`Chicago to develop a new five-year plan to take up where the
`2004-2009 strategy leaves off. Frederick L. Ferris, III, MD,
`Long Range Planning Committee Chair, led the session, which
`included ARVO Trustees, international chapter and industry
`representatives, past and present Annual Meeting Program
`Committee members, and ARVO senior staff.
`In preparation for the Strategic Planning Meeting key stake-
`holders from government, chapters and related organizations
`were interviewed. ARVO also surveyed members to highlight key
`issues and concerns and gather suggestions for change.
`
`The group agreed that ARVO’s purpose and vision rest on five
`core values:
`1. Striving for scientific excellence and a demand for integrity
`and ethics in research
`2. Open exchange and dissemination of information
`3. Inclusiveness and diversity of people and ideas
`4. Collegiality
`5. Member responsiveness/customer service
`Goals
`The Strategic Planning Group created five new goals for ARVO.
`The Goal Panel chairs will identify objectives to help ARVO
`achieve these goals and recruit volunteers to
`develop strategies for meeting the objec-
`tives between January and the 2008 Annual
`Meeting.
`
`Goal 1: Leading international forum
`ARVO will demonstrate by its programs and
`actions that it is the leading international
`forum for vision research.
`
`Goal 2: Primary advocate for
`vision research worldwide
`ARVO will expand its international advo-
`cacy efforts.
`
`Goal 3: Support for young
`investigators
`Young investigators will be an important
`part of the vitality of ARVO.
`
`ARVO Vice President-Elect Barry Winkler,
`PhD, at the ARVO Strategic Planning
`Meeting
`
`Results
`Participants at the October meeting revised
`ARVO’s purpose statement:
`ARVO’s purpose is to facilitate the advance-
`ment of vision research and the prevention and
`cure of disorders of the visual system worldwide.
`The planners also developed a revised
`two-part vision statement. The first state-
`ment describes the impact ARVO aims to
`make on prevention and cure; the second is a
`vision of the role ARVO — both the organi-
`zation and its members — seeks to fulfill.
`
`ARVO’s vision
`To advance [basic and clinical] knowledge
`n
`and prevent and cure disorders of the
`visual system
`To demonstrate by its programs and ac-
`tions that ARVO is the leading interna-
`
`n
`
`AAO recognizes former ARVO
`president
`The American
`Academy of
`Ophthalmology
`recently recognized
`ARVO past president
`Gary Abrams,
`MD (Kresge Eye
`Institute, Wayne
`State University) for
`his contributions to
`the AAO Council’s
`Subspeciality
`Specialized Interest
`Section. He served on
`Council 2002-2007.
`
`Goal 4: Membership value and growth
`Vision scientists will choose ARVO as their primary research mem-
`bership organization.
`
`Goal 5: Infrastructure and governance
`ARVO will be organizationally and financially strong to fulfill its
`purpose and achieve its vision and goals.
`
`Tell ARVO what you think
`The Board of Trustees approved the Strategic Plan in November
`2007. Members are encouraged to provide feedback on the plan
`at any time. Submit your comments to Long Range Planning
`Committee Chair Rick Ferris, MD, through ARVO’s Director
`of Governance and Strategic Initiatives, Lori Methia
`(lmethia@arvo.org). n
`
`4
`
`ARVONews Winter/Spring 2008
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`

`

`GOVERNANCE
`
`New process
`Annual Meeting Program Committee
`nominations and election
`
`E lections for the Annual Meeting Program Committee
`
` (AMPC) will now take place ahead of the Sections’ Business
`Meetings in Fort Lauderdale, FL, at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
`Each Section will vote online to elect a representative to the
`AMPC.
`
`Nominations
`Watch your e-mail and the ARVO Web site for a Call for
`Nomination notice with requirements and instructions. The
`nomination deadline is February 20.
`
`Election
`Voting opens March 17. In early March, candidate bios and vot-
`ing instructions will be posted on the ARVO Web site.
`Please contact Lori Methia (lmethia@arvo.org) if you have
`any questions about the new procedures. n
`
`IM, RC and VI: Get ready to
`choose your Trustee candidates
`for 2009
`A t the 2008 Section Business Meetings which takes
`
` place at the Annual Meeting, voting members of the
`Immunology/Microbiology (IM), Retinal Cell Biology
`(RC) and Visual Psychophysics/Physiological Optics (VI)
`Sections will nominate candidates to stand in the 2009
`Board of Trustees elections.
`Please think about who would best represent your
`Section in this important role and nominate members in
`good standing who are willing to serve.
`ARVO will accept nominations before and during the
`Section Business Meetings. Watch your e-mail and
`www.arvo.org for more information about nomination
`requirements and deadlines. n
`
`DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
`
`Charting new territory: Indo-US Joint Working
`Group on Vision Research
`Significant, col-
`outside the US, representing 71 countries.
`All of us will benefit from international
`collaboration, which presents an
`opportunity to increase scientific talent
`and resources.
`Later, Indian and US scientists identi-
`fied five core research areas:
`1. Clinical aspects of eye disease
`2. Molecular genetics of eye disease
`3. Standardization of clinical measurement
`
`Paul A. Sieving,
`MD, PhD
`National Eye
`Institute Director
`
`laborative vision
`research between US
`and Indian scientists
`is becoming a reality,
`as the Indo-US Joint
`Working Group
`(JWG) moves into
`the grant application
`and funding stage.
`An October meet-
`ing at the Lawton
`Chiles International
`(Stone) House on the NIH campus
`in Maryland, US, entitled “Global
`Partnerships: Expansion of Collaborative
`Vision Research,” helped move the proj-
`ect further toward implementation.
`The JWG — along with a formal
`Statement of Intent — were the results
`of a series of workshops that ARVO
`organized in 2005. Our recognition that
`vision research is now a global enterprise
`spurred those workshops. In fact, almost
`half of ARVO’s members today are based
`
`techniques and terminology
`4. Translational physiology: bedside-to-
`bench-to-bedside applications
`5. Identification, development, and ex-
`change of research resources
`The partners have now turned their
`energies to implementation: coordinat-
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`ing grant application and review between
`the US and India to give these unique,
`bilateral research projects proper, rigor-
`ous consideration in a highly competitive
`funding arena.
`I want to acknowledge the ground-
`breaking work of my former colleague at
`NEI, Dr. Leon Ellwein, who recognized
`the need and value of fostering global
`research early on. Leon worked for many
`years with Dr. Balasubramanian of India’s
`L.V. Prasad Eye Institute to bring this
`idea to fruition. Although Leon recently
`retired, he continues to participate in the
`process as a volunteer. I am also grateful to
`ARVO Executive Director Joanne Angle
`and ARVO’s leadership for facilitating
`discussions at the ARVO Annual Meeting
`(for details, see ARVONews Summer
`2007, page 5).
`With this unique collaboration, NEI
`is charting largely unfamiliar territory at
`NIH. But through hard work, determina-
`tion and innovative thinking, this oppor-
`tunity is becoming a reality. n
`
`ARVONewS Winter/Spring 2008 5
`
`

`

`THE GlOBE
`
`Hungarian group becomes ARVO chapter
`T he Hungarian Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
`
` (HARVO) is ARVO’s newest international affiliate chapter following its
`successful application this past November. HARVO is a special interest group
`of the Hungarian Ophthalmological Society, which was founded in 1904.
`HARVO’s members include 5 basic and clinical researchers. The group
`expects its affiliation with ARVO to increase and strengthen eye and vision
`research collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians at the local
`level. For more information on HARVO, visit www.szemklinika.hu (informa-
`tion is currently available only in Hungarian). n
`
`Jager to address Israel meeting
`T he Israeli Society for Vision and Eye Research (ISVER) has invited ARVO
`
` President Martine Jager, MD, PhD to speak at its annual meeting, March
`13–14 at the Neve Ilan Resort Hotel, in Neve Ilan, Israel. The meeting draws
`180 basic scientists and clinicians from across the region. Last year’s guest lec-
`turer was ARVO member Robert B. Nussenblatt, MD, who spoke about AMD.
`Visit www.isver.org.il to learn more about this year’s ISVER annual
`meeting and to download a copy of the 2007 meeting abstracts, available in
`English and Hebrew. n
`
`US–China luncheon to
`emphasize innovation
`T he third annual US–China Networking
`
` Luncheon will focus on innovation in
`vision research. The speakers are research-
`ers who have helped build cooperation in
`eye research between the US and China.
`Presentation topics will cover innovation
`in retinal prosthesis, glaucoma research and
`corneal research. The event will take place
`during ARVO’s Annual Meeting in Fort
`Lauderdale on April 28, 1:15–2:45 pm. All
`are welcome to attend; a limited number of
`box lunches will be available.
`Would you like to learn more about
`how you can become involved in research
`collaborations between the US and
`China? Join our listserv by completing
`the form at www.zoomerang.com/survey.
`zgi?p=WEB2274VGQ6SND. n
`
`PROGRAMS
`
`Catch up with ARVO’s online education
`series
`S till troubled over missing a particular course or symposium at the 2007
`
` Annual Meeting? ARVO’s online education series has that covered. Visit
`www.arvo.org/education and view keynote sessions, lectures, courses and
`symposia for FREE. Watch for more sessions coming in May. Send your sug-
`gestions for topics/sessions you want to see online to arvo@arvo.org. n
`
`Observe the ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics
`Research Institute
`S pace is available for a limited number of observers at the fourth annual
`
` ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Research Institute, April 25-2, 2008 in Fort
`Lauderdale, FL. The conference, directed by Gülgün Tezel, MD, will address
`“The Role of Glia, Mitochondria and the Immune System in Glaucoma.”
`Deadline for applications is February 8. Apply today at:
`www.arvo.org/arvopfizer. n
`
`Call for proposals: 2009 Summer Eye
`Research Conference
`P roposals for the 2009 ARVO Summer Eye Research Conferences (SERC)
`
`are due March 14. For details, go to www.arvo.org/serc or contact Rhonda
`Williams, Meetings Manager, at rwilliams@arvo.org or +1.240.221.2908.
`Anyone can submit a proposal; there are no geographic or topic restrictions. n
`
`2008 Important Dates
`February 22
`Abstract Search and Itinerary Builder
`available online
`
`March 3
`Deadline: ARVO Annual Awards
`nominations
`
`March 10
`Deadline: Housing reservations
`
`March 28
`Deadline: Early registration rates
`
`April 18
`Deadline: Registration cancellation
`
`April 25–26
`ARVO/ISIE Meeting
`ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Research Institute
`
`April 26
`ARVO Education Courses
`
`April 27–May 1
`ARVO Annual Meeting: Eyes on Innovation
`
`
`
`ARVONews Winter/Spring 2008
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`

`

`PROGRAMS
`
`Upcoming events
`
`NEI/FDA Ophthalmic
`Clinical Trial Design and
`Endpoints Meeting
`March 13–14
`The second NEI/FDA Ophthalmic
`Clinical Trial Design and Endpoints
`Meeting (on glaucoma) will take place
`in Bethesda, MD. For more information,
`including how to register, go to
`www.arvo.org/endpoints.
`
`Symposia, World
`Ophthalmology Congress
`June 28–July 2
`ARVO will sponsor two symposia at
`the World Ophthalmology Congress
`(WOC) this summer in Hong Kong:
`Nanotechnology in Ophthalmology:
`The Great Leap Forward, organized by
`Robert Ritch, MD, and New Discoveries
`in Ocular Oncology, organized by Martine
`Jager, MD.
`
`ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics
`Research Institute
`April 25–26
`The fourth annual ARVO/Pfizer
`Ophthalmics Research Institute is in Fort
`Lauderdale, FL. The conference, directed
`by Gülgün Tezel, MD, will address “The
`Role of Glia, Mitochondria and the
`Immune System in Glaucoma.” For more
`information see www.arvo.org/arvopfizer.
`
`ARVO/ISIE Annual Meeting
`April 25–26
`The International Society for Imaging in
`the Eye (ISIE) is now an official part of
`ARVO; former ISIE members are invited
`to become ARVO members. ISIE will no
`longer collect separate dues. In addition,
`former ISIE members should consider
`participating in ARVO’s Multidisciplinary
`Ophthalmic Imaging Group (MOIG);
`see www.arvo.org/groups. The ISIE
`annual meeting, renamed the ARVO/ISIE
`Meeting, takes place April 25–2 in Fort
`Lauderdale, FL just before the ARVO
`Annual Meeting. For more information,
`go to www.arvo.org/isie or contact Ellyn
`Terry (eterry@arvo.org, +1.240.221.2935).
`
`2008 ARVO Summer Eye
`Research Conference:
`Ocular Autoimmunity and
`Inflammation
`July 31–August 2
`Plan now to attend the 2008 ARVO
`Summer Eye Research Conference
`(SERC) in beautiful Monterey, CA!
`Immunological mechanisms underpin a
`wide spectrum of ocular diseases, includ-
`ing inflammatory, autoimmune and degen-
`erative conditions. This conference will
`bring together a diverse group of experts
`to exchange ideas and raise awareness
`among young researchers and clinicians
`of the new trends and discoveries in this
`field. For more information, go to
`www.arvo.org/serc or contact Rhonda
`Williams (rwilliams@arvo.org,
`+1.240.221.2908).
`
`Asia-ARVO Meeting
`January 15–18, 2009
`The Indian Eye Research Group is orga-
`nizing the second Asia-ARVO Meeting
`in Hyderabad, India next year. The new
`location reflects ARVO’s commitment
`to partnering with different countries in
`Asia that have expanding eye research
`programs. Mark your calendar and plan
`now to experience the blend of science
`and technology along with the rich heri-
`tage and culture of Hyderabad. For more
`information, go to www.arvo.org/asiaarvo
`or contact the meeting organizers at
`asiaarvo@lvpei.org.
`
`Clinical trials education
`series
`The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research
`(AFER), through a generous grant from
`the Allergan Foundation, is developing
`a Clinical Trials Education Series spe-
`cifically for vision researchers to present
`state-of-the-art approaches to the design,
`construction and execution of clinical tri-
`als in ophthalmology.
`Several one-day basic clinical trials
`courses will be held during:
`n World Ophthalmology Congress
`(WOC), Hong Kong, June 27, 2008
`n European Association for Vision and
`Eye Research (EVER) Annual Congress,
`Portoroz, Slovenia, October 1, 2008
`n American Academy of Ophthalmology
`(AAO) Annual Meeting, Atlanta,
`GA, November 2008
`n Asia-ARVO Meeting, Hyderabad,
`India, January 2009
`n ARVO Annual Meeting, April 2009
`
`In addition, ARVO is planning an in-
`depth three-day course September 17–20,
`2008. Watch the ARVO Web site,
`www.arvo.org, and our e-newsletter,
`ARVO Insight, for details. n
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`ARVONewS Winter/Spring 2008 7
`
`

`

`ADVOCACY
`
`Zerhouni emphasizes need to research “software”
`of biological systems
`Scientists need to study the software of life as well as the hardware, said NIH
`
`Director Elias A. Zerhouni, MD, keynoting a November conference sponsored by
`the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and Research!America in
`Washington, DC.
`Zerhouni noted the importance of “P4 Medicine” — prediction, preemption, person-
`alized and participatory research — in managing the disease cycle, but said it was also
`important to look into areas such as cellular mechanisms and signaling.
`He highlighted the discovery of gene variants associated with age-related macular
`degeneration (AMD) in 2005 as a major breakthrough from the Human Genome Project,
`but pointed out dozens of gene discoveries that occurred in 2007, demonstrating NIH’s
`accelerated knowledge of the basis of disease. n
`
`NIH Director Elias Zerhouni
`
`Bill, continued from page 
`
`and Human Services and Education appropriations
`conference bill passed by Congress in November and
`later vetoed by President Bush.
`Jorkasky explained that
`the vision community sent
`thousands of
`e-mails, visited
`Capitol Hill
`and joined
`with coalition
`partners in
`letters and ads urging
`Congress to make appro-
`priate increases to NIH’s
`budget.
`The bill vetoed by Bush
`reflected a 3.8 percent
`increase over FY2007 levels.
`It would have been the first
`time in five years that an NIH
`funding increase matched
`inflation (see chart).
`
`The Honorable Paul Rogers (Research!America),
`Karl Moeller (Campaign for Public Health, CPH)
`and CPH Board member Jennifer Luray (Abbott
`Laboratories) present Senate LHHS Appropriations
`Subcommittee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) with an ad
`sponsored by the advocacy community, including
`NAEVR, that ran in several Hill dailies and
`supported the LHHS conference agreement.
`
`“Don’t misinterpret the vote — it is just
`politics,” said Billy Tauzin, President and CEO of
`Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
`America, a former Republican congressman from
`Louisiana and a cancer survivor.
`He added that there is a lot of support for NIH in
`Congress. “Researchers … need to make the connec-
`tion between NIH
`funding and extramu-
`ral research being con-
`ducted at institutions
`in the Congressional
`district.”
`The veto override
`failed by a vote of 277-141. A total of 51 Republicans
`voted with 22 Democrats for the override, while 141
`Republicans voted to sustain the veto. Many of these
`are members of the conservative Republican Study
`Committee that vowed to sustain vetoes of bills that
`exceeded the President’s budget request.
`When Congress returned in December, it passed a
`consolidated appropriations bill that essentially flat
`funded domestic spending programs while adding $70
`billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. n
`
`FY2007
`Final
`
`FY2008
`Budget
`
`FY2008
`House
`
`FY2008 Conference
`Senate
`Bill
`
`FY2008
`Final
`
`NIH*
`
`$28.9 B
`
`$28.6 B
`-1.7%
`
`$29.6 B
`+2.6%
`
`$29.9 B
`+3.5%
`
`$30 B
`+3.8%
`
`$28.9 B
`.46%
`
`NEI+
`
`$667.1 M $667.8 M
`+0.1%
`
`$677 M
`+1.5%
`
`$681.9 M $684.1 M $667.1 M
`+2.2%
`+2.5%
`0%
`
`* Program level, inclusive of transfers/one-time expenses.
`+ FY2007 NEI excludes $8.5 M for NEI programs due to direct appropriation to NIH common
`fund and $42 M in NIH Director Bridge Awards.
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`James Hoekel, OD, a children’s vision researcher
`from Missouri, contacts his senators at NAEVR’s
`booth at the American Academy of Optometry
`meeting in Tampa, FL. The office of Senator
`Claire McCaskill (D-MO) responded immediately,
`noting the Senator’s support for the maximum
`possible increase in NIH funding.
`
`8
`
`ARVONews Winter/Spring 2008
`
`

`

`ADVOCACY
`
`Vision community at the table for NIH
`common fund
`A RVO members are playing a key
`
`Lenworth Johnson, MD, with Alan Krensky, MD,
`director of NIH’s Office of Portfolio Analysis and
`Strategic Initiatives
`
` role as NIH supports trans-insti-
`tutional research initiatives with its
`“common fund” — created as part of
`the NIH Reform Act of 200. NIH’s
`new Council of Councils, which met
`for an initial planning meeting last
`November, will
`guide the fund.
`The Council
`of Councils
`consists of
`representa-
`tives from the
`advisory bodies
`of NIH’s 27
`institutes and
`centers (ICs).
`Among them
`is Lenworth
`Johnson, MD,
`an ARVO
`member and
`neuro-oph-
`thalmologist
`(Mason Eye
`Institute,
`University of
`Missouri). Dr.
`Johnson sits on
`NEI’s National
`Eye Advisory
`Council (see
`below).
`Another
`ARVO member,
`Stephen Ryan,
`MD (Doheny
`Eye Institute/
`USC), President
`of NAEVR, sat
`on the Institute
`of Medicine committee that recom-
`mended a dedicated fund to support
`trans-institutional research in 2003.
`At the November gathering, NIH
`Director Elias Zerhouni, MD, called
`
`the common fund “the glue for the
`ICs.” He challenged the Council
`to be bold and experimental in its
`guidance on research and creative in
`developing metrics to evaluate scien-
`tific success.
`Zerhouni highlighted examples
`of successful
`trans-insti-
`tute research,
`including
`collaboration
`between ICs
`that identified
`factors that
`inhibit angio-
`genesis (new
`blood vessel
`growth) and
`resulted in the
`first generation
`of FDA-
`approved drugs
`to treat the
`wet form of
`AMD and are
`now in clinical
`trials to treat
`diabetic reti-
`nopathy.
`For the first
`time in the
`appropriations
`process, the
`common fund
`had a direct
`budget line in
`the FY2007
`Joint Funding
`Resolution, of
`$48 million.
`The FY2008
`Labor, Health and Human Services
`and Education appropriations confer-
`ence report would fund it at $531 mil-
`lion, or 1.77% of the NIH budget. n
`
`Left to right: NIH Principal Deputy Director
`Raynard Kingston, MD, PhD, and NIH Director
`Elias Zerhouni, MD, listen as Lenworth Johnson,
`MD, provides comments.
`
`Making a difference
`By Lenworth Johnson, MD
`JohnsonLN@health.missouri.edu
`
`A t the NIH Council of Councils
`
` inaugural meeting in November,
`I met some of the most dynamic
`and energetic professionals from the
`Council, the NIH, the scientific com-
`munity and the public. I came away
`from that historic gathering convinced
`that together, we can and will make a
`significant difference.
`Being an NIH Council of Councils
`charter member is a privilege that
`comes with enormous responsibilities.
`Previously, the 27 NIH institutes and
`centers (ICs) could have been viewed
`almost as a collection of independent
`fiefdoms. However, this congressionally
`authorized Council provides a forum
`for communication and cross-fertiliza-
`tion of the ICs, as we grapple with how
`best to use the common fund for trans-
`NIH research initiatives.
`I see my role on the Council as an
`interlocutor espousing three basic com-
`mitments:
`1. actively listening to the vision com-
`munity regarding issues it feels are
`vitally important;
`2. advocating and negotiating with
`the other Council members those
`positions that can incorporate the
`involvement of a number of ICs; and
`3. encouraging both the NIH director
`and the director of Office of Portfo-
`lio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives
`to take actions which will have
`far-reaching benefits for the vision
`community and others.
`We must remember that this is a
`dynamic process, requiring a balance
`among NIH, other Councils, emerging
`public events and the vision commu-
`nity.
`Along the way, I plan to seek and
`encourage participation from others in
`the vision community as I decipher and
`explore avenues for their involvement.
`I am truly excited about the opportuni-
`ties and challenges that lie ahead, and
`look forward to hearing invaluable
`input from others. n
`
`www.arvo.org
`
`ARVONewS Winter/Spring 2008 9
`
`

`

`Congressional briefing: When “rare” eye disease
`isn’t so rare
`T he critical need for more
`
`degenerative conditions, including
`RP, the “dry” form of AMD, and
`Usher Syndrome (combined blind-
`ness and deafness).
`
`What is learned in treat-
`ing the eye may translate
`into benefits for treating
`other neurodegenerative
`diseases such as AlS,
`Parkinson’s disease and
`Alzheimer’s disease.”
`
`cent or 2,000 have been cloned,
`and about one-quarter of these
`have been found to cause eye
`disease.
`Over time, he continued, many
`common conditions will be sub-
`divided into smaller, genetically
`related groups. We are finding
`that all common diseases in fact
`splinter into groups of rare genetic
`diseases, and we are beginning to
`treat these conditions based on
`their genetic profile.”
`Dr. Rose concluded, “Ten years
`ago, a person with a retinal degen-
`erative disease was told ‘There’s
`nothing we can do for you, go
`home and learn Braille, you will go
`blind.’ “Today, thanks to funding
`from the NEI and FFB, there are
`clinical trials underway to eradi-
`cate these diseases. There is a lot
`of hope.” n
`
`ADVOCACY
`
` research to prevent and cure
`retinal diseases is an issue close to
`home for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-
`TX), who has a teenager affected
`by retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
`“When you have a 1-year-old
`son who wants to be a physician
`and has a great life ahead of him,
`you’re crushed when you learn
`he is losing his eyesight to RP,”
`Sessions told attendees at an
`October Congressional briefing
`sponsored by the Foundation
`Fighting Blindness (FFB) and
`the Alliance for Eye and Vision
`Research.
`At the briefing, top leaders
`from the vision research com-
`munity spoke about the critic