StemCell Therapy

Inherited retinal diseases marketis expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to an annual growth rate of 4.40% in the above-mentioned forecast period.

The major players covered in the inherited retinal diseases market report are American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, Spark Therapeutics, Inc., Invitae Corporation., The Choroideremia Research Foundation Inc, American Council of the Blind, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., Fighting Blindness, FIGHTING BLINDNESS CANADA, Lighthouse Guild, The RDH12 Fund For Sight, Sofia Sees Hope, Retina International, Usher Syndrome Coalition, VisionServe Alliance among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

Ask For Complimentary Sample PDF| Request Athttps://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-inherited-retinal-diseases-market

How does this market Insights help?

Europe is assumed to be the most lucrative inherited retinal disease market due to a relatively bigger prevalence of acquired retinal complications copulated with a higher treatment-seeking rate.

Global Inherited Retinal Diseases Market Scope and Market Size

Inherited retinal diseases market is segmented on the basis of type, treatment type and distribution channel. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

Based on type, inherited retinal diseases market is segmented into leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), retinitis pigmentosa, choroideremia, stargardts disease, and achromatopsia.

Inherited retinal diseases market has also been segmented based on treatment type such as gene therapy treatment, and symptomatic treatment.On the basis of distribution channel, the inherited retinal diseases market is segmented into hospital pharmacies, and retail pharmacies.

Inquiry For Customize Report With Discount at :https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-inherited-retinal-diseases-market

Global Inherited Retinal Diseases Market Drivers:

he growing awareness amongst the physicians and patients regarding the benefits associated with the usage of inherited retinal diseases has been directly impacting the growth of inherited retinal diseases market.

The swelling prevalence of the acquired retinal disorders is foreseen to push the growth of inherited retinal diseases treatment market. Expanding knowledge and treatment-seeking flow is anticipated to feed the germination of the inherited retinal diseases therapy business. Emphasizing knowledge of the inherited retinal disease surgery options and analysis of the condition is moreover awaited to magnify the growth of the inherited retinal disease surgery market.

The production businesses in the inherited retinal diseases market is moreover concentrating on the gene mutation-specific way for developing innovative outputs which is anticipated to accelerate the growth of inherited retinal diseases market. Numerous companies are contracting in collaborations, businesses to perform clinical experiments to promote acquired retinal disorder medication alternatives more efficiently. These certain mentioned factors are expected to drive the market growth in the forecasted period of 2020 to 2027.

To know more about the study,https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-inherited-retinal-diseases-market

About Data Bridge Market Research

An absolute way to forecast what future holds is to comprehend the trend today!Data Bridge set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Data bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune. We ponder into the heterogeneous markets in accord with our clients needs and scoop out the best possible solutions and detailed information about the market trends. Data Bridge delve into the markets across Asia, North America, South America, Africa to name few.Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.

Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchUS: +1 888 387 2818UK: +44 208 089 1725Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475Email:[emailprotected]

See the article here:
Global Inherited Retinal Diseases Market Will Generate Massive Revenue in Coming Years| Top Leaders-Fighting Blindness, FIGHTING BLINDNESS CANADA,...

Meritocracy is the belief that holding power or success should be judged on peoples individual ability, rather than on wealth or social connections. At first glance, this appears to be a reasonable proposition. But the focus on individual merit becomes harder to fathom as one enters the messy world of structural inequality and discrimination.

As our research shows, ideologies of meritocracy and individualism create obstacles for collective action towards a more equal and just society. Our findings were published in the book Race in Education, the outcome of a thinktank on the effects of race at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study.

Using a methodology called Dreaming Workshops, our study explored how Grade 11 students, of around 16 and 17 years old, from different schools in the South African coastal city of Durban imagined race, racism and non-racialism in a utopian future.

Young South Africans are being socialised into a highly racialised society and experience severe disparities. Expecting them to eradicate racism without dismantling material inequalities is a deferral of adult responsibility. Mindful of this, we designed a study to listen to young peoples ideas, as opposed to looking to them for solutions.

The five schools that participated in this study, three government and two private, are located in a middle-class, formerly white area in Durban. The schools have, on average, a diverse but mostly middle-class student body, with some students travelling from townships to attend class. Under apartheid townships were poorly resourced and under-serviced residential spaces designated for people racialised as black. Each school in the study had approximately 20 students per class. One school markets itself as girls-only, one as boys-only, the other three are open to all genders.

Young people involved in the study were deeply aware of inequality. For them, reducing inequality was a priority if the country was to move towards a better future.

It is notable that non-racialism was not a concept volunteered by any of the students as a future ideal, despite it being a constitutional principle in South Africa. At present there is little clarity on the meaning of non-racialism. It is equated to a multiplicity of ideas, among them mobilisation against apartheid, multiracialism, multiculturalism, nation-building, and race-blindness.

What students did want eradicated from their utopia was racial discrimination and racism. The meanings they attached to race shifted depending on the conversation, for example, race when it related to racial quotas as opposed to race when it related to culture, identity or politics.

Racial identities played an important role in these young peoples sense of self. But some thought it is the weirdest thing ever that people sit in race groups during lunch breaks. They make sense of this by explaining that people sit with others who share their culture. Using race and culture as proxies for each other is very much part of the South African experience of racialisation.

The commitment to racial identities, however, was more complex than it first appeared. There was an uneasiness between accepting and feeling pride in racial identities, and not wanting them to count as measures of social value. They frequently vocalised a rejection of racial stereotypes and racism.

In each school, there were students committed to eradicating their own racist thoughts, who openly challenge parents and family members about racism and actively refused to essentialise their peers. Students felt a generational responsibility to challenge racial stereotypes.

They were also vehemently against race as a category in government policies. Arguments against racial quotas, such as broad-based black economic empowerment and affirmative action (race-based legislation aimed to redress past and current discriminations) were present in all the schools. As were statements that we need to get over blaming the past, or linking poverty with laziness, or refusing to recognise the role of privilege in individual achievement.

These sentiments reflected a socialisation process happening at schools, and in the family, that raised real tensions for young people. Many students were taught to believe that individual hard work pays dividends. Principles of individual success and meritocracy were well established in their homes, and valorised daily at their schools. Schools acutely focused on individual competition in sports and academic achievements, rewarding individual rather than collective effort.

The wiping out of the individual in favour of a group racial identity for employment and university entry appeared unfair and contradictory to the meritocratic values they were being taught to aspire to.

Read more: We need to unpack the word 'race' and find new language

These views were present in students who would be racialised as belonging to all four of South Africas racial categories, socially constructed in this country as black, Indian, Coloured and white.

Meritocratic arguments were also against the redistribution of wealth in South Africa. Taxing the rich was often seen as making the poor lazy. Here, class privilege was indiscernible from what would usually be thought of as a defence of white privilege.

In our view meritocratic sentiments are highly problematic in the context of structural inequality. In South Africa there is no equal playing field on which to justify individual merit.

It is not just race-blindness that we should guard against in South Africa; class-blindness too leads to a repetition of the status quo. Since structural inequalities fundamentally enable reproductions of racism this creates a complex dilemma for these students.

What does it mean to desire social justice and equality but refuse to give up any privileges?

This dilemma poses a challenge for education in South Africa. Certainly more frank and critical classroom conversations on race, class and culture are needed. More pressing is how to restructure schooling so that it is less focused on individual merit and reward.

This article is part of a series. Other authors include Barney Pityana, Gran Therborn, Nina Jablonski, George Chaplin and Njabulo Ndebele.

The three edited volumes of essays published by African Sun Media in 2018 (The Effects of Race, edited by Nina G. Jablonski and Gerhard Mar), 2019 (Race in Education, edited by Gerhard Mar), and 2020 (Persistence of Race, edited by Nina G. Jablonski) contain the complete representation of the projects scholarship.

Originally posted here:
What young people have to say about race and inequality in South Africa - The Conversation CA

More News27 Aug 2020 | 12:04 AM

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals who entered into Indian territory with the help of human traffickers near Mahendra Border Out Post (BoP) in Nadia district of West Bengal.

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) With the national capital recoding more fresh infections compared to the recoveries, the recovery rate in the capital has witnessed a decline and went down under 90 per cent on Wednesday.

(Rptg, correcting Lead Para, Line 2)New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) To establish a transparent and comprehensive 'Performance Rating' System for its Consultants, Contractors and Concessionaires, the NHAI has developed a 'Vendor Performance Evaluation System'.

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) A shocking incident came into picture on Wednesday wherein two brothers allegedly committed suicide together by hanging themselves at old Delhi's famous Chandni Chowk area as a result of financial crisis.

New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) To establish a transparent and comprehensive 'Performance Rating' System for its Consultants, Contractors and Concessionaires, the NHAI on Wednesday developed a 'Vendor Performance Evaluation System'.

Visit link:
Pranab Mukherjee's renal parameters slightly deranged, continues on ventilator - United News of India

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alimera Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALIM) (Alimera), a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, announces that Alimera Sciences Europe Limited, its Ireland-based European subsidiary received an add-on status for the pricing and reimbursement approval for ILUVIEN in the Netherlands from the Ministry of Health, effective September 1, 2020. Pricing and reimbursement approval was sought and secured by Alimeras distribution partner in France and the Benelux region, Horus Pharma S.A.S. (Horus). Horus is in the process of reviewing launch plans.

We are extremely pleased to have received this national coverage decision for ILUVIENs diabetic macular edema and non-infectious posterior uveitis indications in the Netherlands at the same time, said Rick Eiswirth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alimera. Given Horuss impressive performance on the launch of ILUVIEN in France, we look forward to expanding distribution and sales in the Benelux region, and continuing to execute on our international growth strategy.

ILUVIEN is a sustained release intravitreal implant indicated in Europe for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic diabetic macular edema (DME) considered insufficiently responsive to available therapiesand for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye (NIPU).

We are genuinely pleased that for the second time, our collaboration with Alimera Sciences regarding ILUVIEN in Europe, has been fruitful, said Maja Lausevic, Chief Operating Officer, Horus Pharma. Access to ILUVIEN therapy is widely anticipated by ophthalmologists and patients in the Netherlands, and we are enthusiastic to provide this unique therapeutic solution to them and look forward to the official launch.

About ILUVIEN

http://www.ILUVIEN.com

The Companys primary product is ILUVIEN (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) 0.19 mg sustained release intravitreal implant, injected into the back of the eye. With its CONTINUOUS MICRODOSING technology, ILUVIEN is designed to release sub-microgram levels of fluocinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid, for 36 months, to reduce the recurrence of disease, enabling patients to maintain vision longer with fewer injections. ILUVIEN is approved in the U.S., Canada, Kuwait, Lebanon and the U.A.E to treat diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients who have been previously treated with a course of corticosteroids and did not have a clinically significant rise in intraocular pressure. In 17 European countries, ILUVIEN is indicated for the treatment of vision impairment associated with chronic DME considered insufficiently responsive to available therapies. In March 2019, ILUVIEN received approval in the 17 countries under the Mutual Recognition Procedure for prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye. The 17 European countries include the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czechia, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The non-infectious posterior uveitis indication for ILUVIEN was launched in Germany and the U.K. in 3Q 2019. ILUVIEN is not approved for treatment of uveitis in the United States.

About Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

DME, the primary cause of vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy, is a disease affecting the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. When the blood vessel leakage associated with diabetic retinopathy results in swelling of the macula, the condition is called DME. The onset of DME is painless and may go unreported by the patient until it manifests with the blurring of central vision or acute vision loss. The severity of this blurring may range from mild to profound loss of vision. The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy found that over a 10-year period approximately 19% of people with diabetes included in the study were diagnosed with DME. All people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing DME.

About Non-Infectious Posterior Uveitis(NIPU)

Posterior segment non-infectious uveitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting the posterior segment of the eye, often involving the retina, and is a leading cause of blindness in developed and developing countries. It affects people of all ages, producing swelling and destroying eye tissues, which can lead to severe vision loss and blindness. Patients with NIPU are typically treated with systemic steroids, which are effective, but over time frequently lead to serious side effects, ranging from acne, weight gain, sleep and mood disorders to hypertension and osteoporosis that can limit effective dosing. Patients then often progress to steroid-sparing therapy with systemic immune suppressants or biologics, which also can have severe side effects, including an increased risk of cancer and infection. As a result, there remains a significant need for new therapies with improved efficacy, tolerability, and safety profiles to manage this disease.

About Alimera Sciences, Inc.

http://www.alimerasciences.com

Alimera Sciences is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in the commercialization and development of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Alimera is presently focused on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina, because these diseases are not well treated with current therapies and affect millions of people in our aging populations. For more information, please visit http://www.alimerasciences.com.

AboutHorus Pharma S.A.S.

Founded in 2003 in France, Horus Pharma is an independent European laboratory specialized in ophthalmology. It has been recognized to date as one of the main innovative European actors in corneal reconstruction treatments, particularly in the areas of dry eye, scarring and keratoconus. Focused on patient safety, Horus Pharma has developed recognized expertise in the development of preservative-free formulations and product delivery systems. For further details, please visit http://www.horus-pharma.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, Alimeras expectations with respect to access to ILUVIEN for patients in the Netherlands. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in its forward-looking statements. Meaningful factors which could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, Horus ability to launch ILUVIEN in the Netherlands for both uveitis and DME, the willingness of healthcare professionals and organizations in the Netherlands to adopt ILUVIEN for the two indications and Horuss ability to get pricing and reimbursement in the remaining Benelux countries, Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as other factors discussed in the Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of Alimeras Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2019 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, which are on file with theSecurities and Exchange Commission(SEC) and available on theSECswebsite atwww.sec.gov.

All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Alimera cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Alimera makes or that are made on its behalf. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release (unless another date is indicated). Alimera undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Continue reading here:
Alimera Sciences Announces National Reimbursement Granted for ILUVIEN in the NetherlandsILUVIEN receives pricing and reimbursement approvals for both...

Newswise SAN FRANCISCO, CA and NEW YORK, NY, August 13David Williams, PhD, has been selected as the 2021 RPB David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research (Weeks Award). The Weeks Award, funded through the generosity of Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), an anonymous donor, and the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO), annually recognizes and celebrates an excellent vision researcher. The award carries the name of David F. Weeks, former President and Chairman of RPB, in honor of his contributions to the field of vision research. Dr. Williams will receive his award and deliver a presentation during the AUPO 2021 Annual Meeting in February.

Dr. Williams holds the position of William G. Allyn Professor of Medical Optics at the University of Rochester. David Williams contributions to understanding the optical factors in vision have been profound. The impact of his research establishes him as one of the outstanding visual scientists in his generation, and his creative ideas for future vision research have the potential to ultimately unlock the discoveries needed to cure blindness, said David A. DiLoreto, Jr., MD, PhD, Chairman for the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester.

AUPO President, David Quillen, MD shared, We are thrilled to recognize Dr. Williams with the Weeks Award. Dr. Williams is one the world's leading experts on human vision. He and his team have transformed ophthalmology and visual science through the development and implementation of the first adaptive optics system for the eye. This work has resulted in unprecedented developments in patient care including wavefront-guided refractive surgery and exquisite retinal imaging. It is a remarkable story that will continue to advance our understanding of the eye and vision.

Dr. Williams work is the kind of ground-breaking research that fulfills Mr. Weeks vision for the advancement of vision science via his work at RPB and his advocacy activities that were key to the creation of the National Eye Institute, said Brian F. Hofland, PhD, President of Research to Prevent Blindness. On behalf of RPB, I extend my sincerecongratulationsto Dr. Williams on all of his past accomplishments, and I look forward to his future innovations.

For more information on the RPB David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research, visit the AUPO website.

About Research to Prevent Blindness

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) is the leading nonprofit organization supporting eye research directed at the prevention, treatment or eradication of all diseases that damage and destroy sight. As part of this purview, RPB also supports efforts to grow and sustain a robust and diverse vision research community. Since it was founded in 1960 by Dr. Jules Stein, RPB has awarded more than $373 million in research grants to the most talented vision scientists at the nations leading medical schools. As a result, RPB has been associated with nearly every major breakthrough in the understanding and treatment of vision loss in the past 60 years. Learn more atwww.rpbusa.org.

About Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology

The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) was founded in 1966 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and education. AUPO is the voice of academic ophthalmology through the promotion of medical education, research, and patient care in ophthalmology, and accomplished by providing a forum for discussion of mutual issues facing departments/divisions of ophthalmology in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit aupo.org.

View post:
Research to Prevent Blindness and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology Announce 2021 Recipient of RPB David F. Weeks Award for...

X Ambassadors' keyboardist, Casey Harris, was born with the rare genetic disease, Senior-Loken syndrome, which affects his kidneys and retinas. The acoustic performance by brothers Sam and Casey Harris will feature their top hits including, Renegade, Unsteady, Hold You Down, and Belong. In between sets, Jason Menzo, chief operating officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness, will interview Sam and Casey about their experiences with vision loss and discuss their commitment to creating music that celebrates diversity and belonging. Event registration is free, but attendees will have the opportunity to contribute, as all net proceeds will go towards the Foundation's mission.

"We are so excited and honored to be collaborating with Two Blind Brothers for this livestream conversation and acoustic performance with Sam and Casey Harris of X Ambassadors," says Jason Menzo, COO at the Foundation. "Together, we have this natural connection and unwavering commitment to providing hope and empowerment for the blind and visually impaired community."

For more information and to register for a reminder about the event, visit: https://bit.ly/3ihTkda

About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $800 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

Media Contacts:Chris Adams Vice President, Marketing & Communications [emailprotected] (410) 423-0585

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness

http://www.FightBlindness.org

Original post:
X Ambassadors Teams up with Foundation Fighting Blindness and Two Blind Brothers to Launch Music to our Eyes Exclusive Livestream Music Series -...

Cornea is the clear tissue covering the front of the eye and is the main focusing part of the eye. If it becomes cloudy or scarred, say, due to an eye injury or infection, vision is reduced or lost because the scar tissue scatters the light passing through the cornea.

This is known as cornea opacity, which is considered a major public health problem. According to the World Health organisation, there are at least 2.2 billion people with vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed. Among these, those suffering from cornea opacities are about 4.2 million.

In Kenya, according to the annual report for the year 2018 by the Kenya Society for the Blind, there are about 350,000 people who are blind while another 750,000 are visually impaired. The Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital which is the biggest eye hospital in East Africa reports that cornea opacities contribute to 19% of blindness cases.

One of the ways to treat cornea opacity is with a cornea transplant, this can restore vision. Cornea transplant involves a surgical procedure which replaces a disc-shaped segment of an impaired cornea with a similarly shaped piece of healthy donor cornea. Though we do not have nationwide studies in Kenya it can be estimated that those in need of cornea transplant exceed 50,000 cases.

Journey of cornea transplant in Kenya

This year as the world marks the World Organ Donation Day, we chose to focus on cornea transplant in Kenya which is largely led by Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital. According to the experts in the hospital, there are competent surgeons in Kenya who are able to undertake the required surgery [known as Keratoplasty] to restore cornea opacity and surgical facilities are available for the procedure, but there has been shortage of donor corneas to meet the demand.

As a way of addressing this gap between supply and demand, there was established the first ever eye bank in East and Central Africa in the year 2007 which was named after its chief sponsor Lion Kanubhai Babla. The eye bank was established at the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital. The eye bank which is still in operation obtains, medically evaluates and distributes donated corneas for use in transplantation, research and medical education.

Before the establishment of this eye bank, cornea transplants were done with donor corneas from abroad. The costs involved to either travel abroad for the surgery or to procure the corneas from abroad were too high for the majority of patients to afford thus remaining blind for the rest of their lives. The eye bank started, and still does, facilitating cornea transplant at minimal cost to the needy and deserving patients.

Currently the Lion Kanubhai Babla Eye Bank at Lions Eye Hospital is fundamental to the obtainment, screening and storage of donated eye tissue used for cornea transplant. The eye bank team provides a 24- hour information and retrieval service 365 days a year and it provides these services throughout the country but with priority to the needy especially students so that they can continue with their studies uninterrupted.

Where the eye bank gets cornea for transplant

Lion Kanubhai Babla Eye Bank relies on voluntary donation of corneas and only the corneas are obtained not the whole eyeball. Kenya performs about 200 cornea transplants annually with donations coming from non-native communities. This is mainly associated with cultural and religious beliefs surrounding death among the indigenous Kenyan communities. While pledging to become a donor, there is no monetary compensation given or any other form of incentives, either to the donor or to the family.

The time required to obtain cornea is 6-8 hours after death and it is stored immediately to avoid damage. The Lions Eye bank collaborates with eye bank ambassadors and other hospitals to assist in proper preservation of the donor bodies before the eye bank specialists can get to the harvesting point. Cornea can be removed at hospital or even at residence or wherever death occurs.

Only people above the age of 18 years are allowed to pledge their cornea because this is the consent age in Kenya. However, it is not suitable to transplant a cornea from an older donor to a young patient. A potential donor pledges at the Lions eye bank to give their cornea when they die. However, the family needs to give consent upon the death of the donor. It is therefore important that the donor notifies their family and has them understand the reason and implications of the decision. This prevents contention when the cornea needs to be obtained.

As the decision for eye donation is made by the family members when a death occurs, the commitment and involvement of the whole family is required. Eye donation will work best, when it becomes a tradition in every Kenyan family and a part of our culture, irrespective of religion and other aspects.

Elizabeth Mbugua and Stephen Rukwaro (Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital)

Read more here:
Lifting the burden of cornea blindness through donation - The Star, Kenya

While other theatres remain closed, the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden welcomes audiences four times a day to experience a socially distanced sound installation. After following a strict anti-Covid drill (distanced queuing and seating, sanitiser, face masks), people hear a recording over headphones of Juliet Stevenson narrating an adaptation of the Portuguese Nobel laureate Jos Saramagos 1995 novel Blindness.

Saramagos story is simple but, like Albert Camuss The Plague, even more resonant in the current climate. One day, a driver stops his car at some traffic lights because he cant see any more. It is soon apparent that this form of blindness is contagious and, within days, the whole city, then the country, is infected.

Caught up in the chaos of the inexplicable epidemic is an unnamed eye doctor, his strong-willed wife and some of their patients. As the Government uses the army to herd the sightless victims into a disused asylum for quarantine, it becomes clear the doctors wife is the only person who retains her sight.

Adapted by playwright Simon Stephens into a 70-minute narrative monologue, in which Stevenson also plays the doctors wife, Blindness shows how quickly society can disintegrate when an epidemic renders citizens vulnerable. The strong terrorise the weak; the government fails to control the sickness; but there is hope in collective solidarity despite acute adversity.

Loss of sight can mean a better perception rather than a disability, and this version of the novel is alive to current resonances. The announcements of the Government recall not only the injunctions of various military juntas, but also strike closer to home, talking glibly of a curve of resolution.

At other moments, the horror of a minister losing their sight during a press conference goes hand in hand with the feeling that often these events are designed to blind you with untruths. Likewise, the repeated notion of individual responsibility roots this universal fable in an Anglo-Saxon context.

A great part of the show is experienced in darkness, and Ben and Max Ringhams immersive binaural sound design allows Stevenson to whisper in your ear or rush across a room, shouting in the distance. She begins coolly and becomes increasingly desperate. The feeling of intimacy and reality iscompelling.

Walter Meierjohanns production also uses Lizzie Clachans design and Jessica Hung Han Yuns multi-coloured strip lighting to brilliant effect, all of which remind us of the importance of sight.

Blindness is inventive and thoroughly engrossing a real light in our current darkness.

To 22 August (020 3282 3808)

THEARTSDESK.COM

Read more from the original source:
Blindness is inventive and thoroughly engrossing a real light in our current darkness - iNews

REVIEWDonmar Warehouse, London

RIGHT now, it seems a small miracle that this penetrating, inventive piece of theatre exists at all. That it also speaks so eloquently to our Covid-afflicted present and our common humanity is an exhilarating testament to the power and necessity of art not least at times of crisis.

Its adapted from Jose Saramagos novel, in which a city is stricken by an epidemic of blindness. A bright, white sightlessness descends without warning and its virulently contagious. The rudderless government loses control (sound familiar?), society disintegrates and new hierarchies emerge, with the uninfected free to exploit and abuse. But there is hope, too, of rebuilding something better.

Written by Simon Stephens, Walter Meierjohanns production shrewdly embraces social distancing safeguards. Masks must be worn throughout, ramping up the sweaty, claustrophobic intensity. There are no live actors; the narrative unspools through binaural headphones, delivered by Juliet Stevenson as a doctors wife who escapes the virus and becomes a horrified witness and reluctant hero. The audience is scattered around the bare stage. Overhead hang angular rods of light, which rise and fall, changing colour, before blinking out, leaving us in absolute darkness.

Its an unnervingly intimate experience, with Stevensons feverish voice so close you can almost feel her hot breath on your skin. The sense of disorientation scarcely abates when the lights come up and you find yourself surrounded by masked figures, too far away to touch.

Its not always easy to endure. But at this particular historical moment, it is a unique and unforgettable achievement.

Blindness runs until August 22. donmarwarehouse.com

Read the rest here:
Theatre review: Blindness - Metro Newspaper UK

Currently, there is much bullish commentary suggesting stocks can only go higher from here. Is the bullishness in the markets justifiable, or is it willful blindness?

John Stoltzfus, CIO of Oppenheimer, is clearly in the bullish camp:

We remain very bullish on this market. Youre going to see money beginning to further move out of the bond market, and it makes all the sense in the world to be positioned in equities.

This seems a little optimistic given the amount of money that has already flooded into the 5-largest mega-cap stocks which have accounted for a bulk of this years market returns.

Nonetheless, it is an interesting question.

From the bulls viewpoint the focus has been the ability for these companies to grow earnings.

The bearish view is the problem with valuations.

As noted in COT Positioning Back To Extremes, the Nasdaq set repeated new highs in 2020, which is astonishing given the depth of the economic recession. To wit:

While the S&P 500 is primarily driven higher by the largest 5-market capitalization companies, it is the Nasdaq that has now reached a more extreme deviation from its longer-term moving average.

Moving averages, especially longer-term ones, are like gravity. The further prices become deviated from long-term averages, the greater the gravitational pull becomes. An average requires prices to trade above and below the average level. The risk of a reversion grows with the size of the deviation.

The Nasdaq currently trades more than 23% above its 200-dma. The last time such a deviation existed was in February of this year. The Nasdaq also trades 3-standard deviations above the 200-dma, which is another extreme indication.

The immediate conclusion is the drive higher in the markets is a function of massive amounts of liquidity being injected into the financial markets by the Federal Reserve. As shown below that was certainly the case during March and April.

However, since then the tapering of the liquidity injections by the Fed has been marked as the slowing uptake of the various programs reduced demand.

While there is indeed truth to the Feds impact on the market, it is not solely responsible for the dislocation of prices from the underlying fundamentals.

As shown, the decline in fundamentals didnt start during the pandemic. The decline in earnings started in early 2019 as economic growth slowed, and accelerated during the pandemic. However, during that same period stock prices rose, which is almost entirely attributable to valuation expansion.

E*Trade recently released survey data which showed that despite the market plunge in March, bullish sentiment has returned:

You get the idea. Just one quarter after panic selling lows, investors are once again back in the pool. Despite the economy just printing a nearly 40% decline in Q2, and earnings having dropped by nearly 40% from their peak, the dumb money is back to chasing stocks.

In particular, not only are retail investors chasing stocks, they are doing it with increased leverage by using options. As noted by CNBC recently:

Investors have reentered the market at a record rate following the coronavirus-induced sell-off in March, and as traders look to profit, options volume has soared to an all-time high.

The average daily value of options traded has exceeded shares for the first time, with July single stock options volumes currently tracking 114% of shares volumes.

In other words, the options market is now larger than the shares market.

We have seen record lows in the Put/Call ratio three times in 2020. All three lead to corrections.

Willful blindness, also known as willful ignorance or contrived ignorance, is a term used in law. Being willfully blind describes a situation in which a person seeks to avoid civil or criminal liability for a wrongful act by keeping themselves unaware of the facts that would render them liable or implicated.

Although the term was originally used in legal contexts, the phrase willful blindness has come to mean any situation in which people avoid facts to absolve themselves of their liability.

Willful blindness is most prevalent in the financial markets. Investors regularly dismiss the facts which run contrary to their current opinion. In behavioral investing terms this is also known as confirmation bias.'

As markets rise, investors take on exceedingly more risk with the full knowledge that such actions will have a negative consequence. However, that negative consequence is dismissed by the fear of missing out, or rather F.O.M.O.

As greed overtakes fear, investors become more emboldened as rising markets reinforce the conviction that this time is different. Ultimately, when the negative consequence eventually occurs, instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they blame the media, Wall Street, or their advisor.

This currently where we are in the markets today.

Investors know there is a rising risk of loss, but, they are willfully ignoring the facts and and piling into risk because the narrative has simply become fundamentals dont matter. In 2020, investors are again chasing growth at any price and rationalizing overpaying for growth.

Such makes the mantra of using 24-month estimates to justify paying exceedingly high valuations today, even riskier.

This is also where there is the greatest disparity between growth and value on record.

There are two critical takeaways from the graph above:

In other words, there is high probability that investors chasing growth are going to pay a heavy price in the future..

The problem, as discussed in Insanely Stupid, the ability for stocks to continue to grow earnings at a rate to support high valuations will be problematic. Such is due to rising debts and deficits which will retard economic growth in the future. To wit:

Before the Financial Crisis, the economy had a linear growth trend of real GDP of 3.2%. Following the 2008 recession, the growth rate dropped to the exponential growth trend of roughly 2.2%. Instead of reducing the debt problems, unproductive debt, and leverage increased.

The COVID-19 crisis led to a debt surge to new highs. Such will result in a retardation of economic growth to 1.5% or less.

Slower economic growth, combined with a potential for higher taxes, increases the probability that risk may well outweigh reward at this juncture.

Such doesnt mean that stocks cant go higher in the near term, and despite some wiggles along the way, it is quite likely they will simply because of momentum and lots of bullish bias.

Weve often noted that during times of unhealthy market environments, when fewer than 60% of stocks can hold above their 200-day averages, that periods of high optimism tend to lead to below-average forward returns.

Were seeing that now, to a historic degree. Since weve been tracking this data, just over 20 years, there has never been a day when Dumb Money Confidence was at or above 80% while fewer than 60% of stocks in the S&P 500 were trading above their 200-day averages. Until now. Sentiment Trader

The problem of eternal bullishness is it leads to the willful blindness of risks, rather than having a healthy respect for, and recognition of, those risks. This leads to the unfortunate problem of being all-in on every hand which has a devastating consequence when a mean reverting event occurs.

Our job as investors is to navigate the waters within which we currently sail, not the waters we think we will sail in later. Higher returns come from the management of risks rather than the attempt to create returns by chasing markets.

I recently quoted Robert Rubin, former Secretary of the Treasury, in This Is Nuts, as it defined our philosophy on risk.

As I think back over the years, I have been guided by four principles for decision making. The only certainty is that there is no certainty. Second, every decision, as a consequence, is a matter of weighing probabilities. Third, despite uncertainty, we must decide and we must act. And lastly, we need to judge decisions not only on the results but also on how we made them.

Most people are in denial about uncertainty. They assume theyre lucky, and that the unpredictable can be reliably forecasted. Such keeps business brisk for palm readers, psychics, and stockbrokers, but its a terrible way to deal with uncertainty. If there are no absolutes, all decisions become matters of judging the probability of different outcomes, and the costs and benefits of each. Then, on that basis, you can make a good decision. Robert Rubin

It should be evident that an honest assessment of uncertainty leads to better decisions.

The problem with Eternal Bullishness and Willful Blindness is that the failure to embrace uncertainty increases risk, and ultimately loss.

We must be able to recognize and be responsive to changes in underlying market dynamics. If they change for the worse, we must be aware of the inherent risks in portfolio allocation models. The reality is that we cant control outcomes. The most we can do is influence the probability of specific outcomes.

Focusing on risk not only removes willful blindness from the process, it is essential to capital preservation and investment success over time.

Original post

Editor's Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.

Here is the original post:
Justifiable Bullishness Or Is It Willful Blindness? - Seeking Alpha

A British TikToker has captivated social media with a simple explanation of how she both creates and consumes online content as a blind person.

Gracie Marsh, a 19-year-old disability advocate from England who went blind at age 14 due to Septo-optic dysplasia, shared a now-viral video on July 28 explaining how she operates her BrailleNote HumanWare Touch+.

Marsh demonstrates how the tablet, which allows those with visual impairments to read and write with ease, functions as she walks viewers through the keyboards nine main buttons the backspace, enter and space bars, as well as the six keys representing the six dots that make up the braille system.

The device also comes equipped with a touchscreen, which Marsh says is particularly useful for teachers and sighted peers.

Her insightful video has since racked up over 1.5M views on TikTok alone, plus 2.2M more on Twitter, along with tons of comments from viewers who were utterly impressed with the technology.

This is [a] true technological masterpiece! wrote one user.

This was really interesting to learn! Thanks for sharing with us, commented another.

This blows my mind, said a third.

Marsh, who was born with multiple chronic illnesses that have caused her to need a wheelchair, feeding tube and catheter, told In The Know that she started making TikToks for entertainment earlier this year before pivoting into disability awareness content after one of her videos went viral with over 450K views in June.

[A TikTok] where I did my makeup as a blind person kind of blew up, so I decided totry and build a bigger platform, Marsh, who now boasts over 28K followers, told In The Know.

With content ranging from rating her main diagnoses to how she uses an iPhone to how she dreams, Marsh says that her videos have been generally well-received.

She does, however, still occasionally get nasty or misinformed comments, including some that allege shes faking her condition.

Its been really positive overall, but I have received some comments questioning my blindness, she told In The Know. How are you blind if youre reading these comments? et cetera, even though thats been explained in many of my TikToks!

Ultimately, Marsh hopes that her informative and often humorous videos can serve to dispel stigmas surrounding the visually impaired and show the world exactly what shes capable of.

I think Id just like people to know that blindness, and disability in general, doesnt mean that individuals cant advocate for themselves, participate in normal activities and be independent, she said. Id like people to stop underestimating me and the disabled community as a whole!

These are the best tech gifts under $100:

If you enjoyed this article, read about TikToker Chrissy Marshall, who uses her experience as a deaf woman to educate millions.

More from In The Know:

Starbucks is opening its first sign language store in Japan

Deaf, transgender model Chella Man shares how to be a better ally for people with disabilities

Netflixs new show, Love on the Spectrum, highlights the dating lives of people with autism

Blind skateboarder Ryusei Ouchi has never let his disability hold him back

The post Teen reveals how shes able to read and type as a blind person appeared first on In The Know.

Go here to see the original:
Blind teen captivates social media with reading and writing lesson: 'This blows my mind' - Yahoo Sports

MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocugen, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCGN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing transformative therapies to cure blindness diseases, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the fourth Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for OCU400 in the treatment of PDE6B gene mutation-associated retinal diseases. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) caused by PDE6B mutation is an inherited retinal dystrophy that leads to blindness by midlife and is characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptors, with or without the loss of retinal pigment epithelium cells. At least one mutation in the PDE6B gene has been found to cause autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness, which is characterized by the inability to see in low light.

Ocugens Modifier Gene Therapy Platform offers a unique approach in ophthalmology by addressing multiple diseases with a single product. A novel gene therapy product candidate, OCU400 has the potential to be broadly effective in restoring retinal integrity and function across a range of genetically diverse inherited retinal diseases. It consists of a functional copy of a nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) gene, NR2E3, delivered to target cells in the retina using an adeno-associated viral vector. As a potent modifier gene, expression of NR2E3 within the retina may help reset retinal homeostasis and potentially offer longer benefit, stabilizing cells and rescuing photoreceptor degeneration and vision loss. In pre-clinical studies, OCU400 has demonstrated improved vision signals in the retina where Electroretinogram response reveals rescue under both Scotopic (dim-lit) as well as Photopic (well-lit) conditions. The Company believes targeting multiple diseases with one product could also offer a smoother regulatory pathway and the ability to recover development costs over multiple therapeutic indications. Ocugen is planning to initiate two parallel Phase I/II clinical trials next year targeting two unique IRDs.

Following up on recent announcement of an ODD for RHO mutation-associated retinal degeneration and previous ODDs for both NR2E3 and CEP290 mutation-associated retinal degeneration, the ODD for PDE6B gene mutation-associated retinal degeneration continues to support Ocugens breakthrough modifier gene therapy platforms potential to treat multiple blindness diseases with a single product. RP is a group of heterogenic inherited retinal diseases associated with over 150 gene mutations, affecting over 1.5 million individuals worldwide. In addition, ~40% of RP patients cannot be genetically diagnosed, confounding the ability to develop personalized RP therapies. Traditional gene therapy or gene editing approaches may require more than 150 products to rescue these patients from vision loss. OCU400, a single product candidate, has potential to address broad-spectrum RP.

As principal investigator of numerous major clinical trials developing new medical and surgical treatments for retinal disorders, I have been on the cutting-edge of many new ophthalmology treatments. I am very encouraged by the potential for OCU400 given the uniqueness of Ocugens Modifier Gene Therapy Platform and the fact that FDA has issued four ODDs for this product. I look forward to Ocugen commencing clinical trials for OCU400 next year and the potential of helping patients by restoring retinal integrity and function across a range of genetically diverse inherited retinal diseases including broad-spectrum RP, said Carl D. Regillo, M.D.,F.A.C.S., member of Ocugens Retina Scientific Advisory Board and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Chief of the Retina Service at Wills Eye Hospital and founder and former director of the Wills Eye Clinical Retina Research Unit in Philadelphia.

I am thrilled to announce our fourth ODD for OCU400 from the FDA after announcing our third ODD for RHO mutation-associated retinal degeneration just a few days ago. With no approved treatments that slow or stop the progression of RP, we are dedicated to driving the development of our Modifier Gene Therapy Platform forward and potentially addressing the unmet need of multiple gene mutations, including mutations in the PDE6B gene with only one product, said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Ocugen.

The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development grants orphan designation for novel drugs or biologics that treat a rare disease or condition affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the U.S. Orphan designation qualifies the sponsor of the drug for various development incentives of the Orphan Drug Act, including a seven-year period of U.S. marketing exclusivity, tax credits for clinical research costs, clinical research trial design assistance, the ability to apply for annual grant funding and waiver of Prescription Drug User Fee Act filing fees.

About OCU400OCU400 (AAV-hNR2E3) is a novel gene therapy product candidate with the potential to be broadly effective in restoring retinal integrity and function across a range of genetically diverse inherited retinal diseases. It consists of a functional copy of a nuclear hormone receptor gene, NR2E3, delivered to target cells in the retina using an adeno-associated viral vector. As a potent modifier gene, expression of NR2E3 within the retina may help reset retinal homeostasis, potentially stabilizing cells and rescuing photoreceptor degeneration and vision loss.

About Ocugen, Inc.Ocugen, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing transformative therapies to cure blindness diseases. Our breakthrough modifier gene therapy platform has the potential to treat multiple retinal diseases with one drug one to many and our novel biologic product candidate aims to offer better therapy to patients with underserved diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy. For more information, please visit https://ocugen.com/.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. We may, in some cases, use terms such as predicts, believes, potential, proposed, continue, estimates, anticipates, expects, plans, intends, may, could, might, will, should or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

Corporate Contact:Ocugen, Inc.Sanjay SubramanianChief Financial OfficerIR@Ocugen.com

Media Contact:LaVoieHealthScienceEmmie Twomblyetwombly@lavoiehealthscience.com+1 857-389-6042

Go here to read the rest:
Ocugen Receives Fourth FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the Same Product, OCU400 (AAV-NR2E3) Gene Therapy, for the Treatment of Another Key Inherited...

Blessing of sight often overlookedIts very easy to take our senses for granted. As Joni Mitchell says, you dont know what youve got till its goneThe blessing of sight is often overlooked. However, in an instant, it can vanish. David Rullos interview with Sandy Greenberg in Hello Darkness, My Old Friend (July 31), recounting the friendship between Greenberg and Art Garfunkel, is a cautionary piece, and one that personally struck close to home: Sandy Greenberg was a childhood friend to many in my family and, after all, Buffalo is a big small town.

Three years ago during an annual ophthalmological exam, I was diagnosed with narrow angles, a condition that can lead to glaucoma and sudden blindness. We are incredibly fortunate that treatments and surgery are now available to correct this otherwise disastrous and life-changing condition. Yet, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, of the large number of adults who report having eye problems (64%), only 13% of them have seen a doctor for an eye exam. The 2020 End Blindness prize that will award $3 million to the deserving team needs to focus on public awareness of necessary ophthalmological yearly exams, especially for those 40 years and older, to correct what is now a preventable blindness condition.

Dori OshlagSquirrel Hill

Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top storiesFree Sign Up

Notable events ignored in Chronicle featureI have been mystified for some time by the events that the Center for Israel Education provides the Chronicle (This Week in Israeli history, ongoing). I wondered why the dates were not notable in Jewish history, rather than being limited to Israeli history. How, in fact, can the two be separated?

They cant as a regular reading of the feature clearly demonstrates. The CIE notes, for example, the Aug. 4 publication of an article by Mordecai Kaplan laying the groundwork for Reconstructionist Judaism. How, one might ask, is that related to Israel history? Ah, the item cleverly closes with what no doubt is a barely noticed phrase Kaplans article includes Zionism as a key component.

In addition to learning about Kaplans article, your readers might if they found it of the slightest interest have learned the birthdate of an obscure Israeli politician, and the date of death of an equally obscure composer. What they would not have read was one word about one of the great tragedies of Jewish history: the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Apparently that lacked a sufficient connection to Israel to be worthy of the CIEs attention.

But that shouldnt have missed the Chronicles attention too. Surely your readers are worthy of a more a comprehensive look at Jewish history than what the CIE can conceive of.

The Bialystok Ghetto uprising began on Aug. 20, 1943, and Leopold Zunz was born on Aug. 10, 1794. Since neither is amenable to an easy connection to Israeli history, I assume the CIE will overlook them both. Will the Chronicle do the same?

The CIE may be a useful resource for the Chronicle, but it certainly isnt a sufficient one. Finding notable dates in Jewish history is not a formidable task. I hope the Chronicle will broaden its search so that it will more effectively achieve what I assume is its intent to offer its readers glimpses into their rich history.

Ann Sheckter PowellPittsburgh

Still waving to cyclists, but gave up the HarleyIn regard to Life is a chai-way for these Jewish bikers (Aug. 7), I drove a Harley until I was 80 (I am now 95). I stopped because I couldnt lift it anymore. Also the helmet became too heavy. I wished there was a Jewish group then.I still have my jacket and trousers, if anyone wants them. They are fairly short.

Marion DamickSquirrel Hill

A small Jewish worldPittsburgh was my home for many years, but I now live in San Diego. Because of COVID-19, I havent met many people in my new retirement community. Our menu often has lox and bagels and pastrami sandwiches. Occasionally, even matzah ball soup. There are Shabbat services but theyve been cancelled because of quarantine rules. But I have been waiting to make my first Jewish friend. Guess who introduced us?

My daughter was visiting me outside and reading the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle to me. A gentleman strolled by on his walker and said, Oh, a Yiddishe maideleh is reading to her mameleh!

So the Chronicle introduced me to my first M.O.T. here in Paradise Village. Thought youd like to know.

Beverly King Pollockaka Quoth the Maven (Chronicle columnist 1967-78)San Diego, California

Go here to read the rest:
Letters to the editor | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net

Never before, in the field of human communication, was so much said by so many about so little.

It is only a piece of paper or cloth, for goodness sake, but the face mask debate rages on.

From the ceaseless parroting of the You must wear one orders on social media - yes, I know, I got the message when they said it was going to become law - to the rantings of those who are outraged at this supposed eroding of their liberties. Really?

Weve heard, ad nauseum, that they cause your glasses to steam up and make it difficult to read the facial expression underneath, and if you are as tired of the whole thing as I am, excuse me for introducing another thread into the debate, but it does seem to have been overlooked.

My big issue with face masks is trying to work out who is underneath.

For some years now, I have realised I suffer from prosopagnosia.

Proso-what?

You may well ask.

If I say it is also sometimes called face blindness you will probably get an idea that prosopagnosia is the inability to recognise people efficiently.

It is sometimes brought on by an accident or a stroke, but the majority of sufferers, including me, are born with it.

If you have it really bad, even recognising family members or yourself in the mirror can be a challenge, but for me it is relatively mild, and comes down to sometimes really struggling to recognise people.

You would be amazed, for instance, by my inability to name even some of the most famous faces in the world.

We are not talking about occasionally forgetting someones name, which happens to everybody, but always having to work hard to separate, put labels to, and then memorise or imagine different faces.

And if it was a struggle with a whole face, imagine the difficulty of seeing only half a face, thanks to a mask.

As with many minor mental disorders, our brains develop other strategies and skills to compensate, but there is the added complication for me in that I am also colourblind, so cant rely on identifying someones skin, hair or eye colour to help me identify them.

So face masks compound what is surely the ultimate social nightmare.

Few situations are more awkward than when somebody says hello to you in a supermarket and you cant work out who they are.

For all the disasters that 2020 has brought, however, at least this year is teaching us new lessons, and if you think about face blindness, there is another.

As many as two per cent of people suffer from it, yet the other 98 per cent are probably blissfully unaware that face recognition is an issue for some.

We should never forget that we all have our foibles, and every Tom, Dick and Harry has his own way of coping with what life throws at us.

Although dont ask me which is Tom, which is Dick and which is Harry.

See more here:
Graham Carter: The challenge of facemasks when you have face blindness - Swindon Advertiser

Performing arts stages all across America, the Tampa Bay area included, first went dark on Friday, March 13. That was when the coronavirus curtain fell.

It was that same day Friday the 13th that American Stage producing artistic director Stephanie Gularte was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative disease that will eventually, inevitably erode her eyesight into next to nothing.

I got my genetic test results back the day we closed the theater, Gularte says. The universe has a sense of humor, for sure.

The disease retinitis pigmentosa was first detected when Gularte went to visit her optometrist for a new pair of reading glasses in February. She was sent to a retinal specialist the next day.

Shes unsure about the days, weeks and months ahead.

To be honest, Im still processing it, Gularte says. The biggest thing that I have come to learn is that theres a very significant range of impact before we think of blindness as being fully, one hundred percent blind.

Because retinitis pigmentosa is progressive, she expects a period of low vision to come first how long, doctors can only speculate. I realized that I need to make preparations to be able to be productive, with some limitations.

Its not uncommon, she has learned, for people to dismiss minor vision issues when something more serious lies just under the surface.

What I thought was clumsiness, and what I thought was kind of being distracted, bumping into things and knocking things over for the last few years, was actually the fact that my peripheral vision is compromised.

Night blindness, Ive struggled with since my 20s. And its kind of been a joke everybody whos worked with me in the theater knows that Stephanie needs help getting off the stage, if Im ever performing, or when the lights go down. I didnt realize that it was connected to something much more serious.

She has agreed to stay on with American Stage through early 2021.

Its not that I cant do my job, she explains. I intend to continue to be productive, and find a new way, creating a career that will allow me to continue to stay active as my vision declines. But what my position right now makes it difficult to do is prepare, and plan, and really assess how to be ready for change.

So it wasnt a matter of I cant do it any more, it came down to The best thing that I can do, the best gift I can give to myself right now, is stepping back and giving myself the time and opportunity to be very intentional about how I take care of myself, and how I plan for my future.

Her intention is to work with the company through its leadership transition, and ultimately to divide her time between St. Petersburg and her California hometown.

I want people to know that American Stage is going to be not just fine, but strong, Gularte says. Im not jumping on a jet plane to go take a job in another city. Im here. And so that transition is going to be managed very carefully, with great consideration for all of the other things the organization is dealing with.

I am still here and I still want to contribute to the community. And I dont know exactly what thats going to look like yet. Its not like this is it for me. Ive got a lot of energy still, and Ive got a lot I want to do.

I need to re-structure, and re-strategize, and my health will be the number one thing I make time and space for.

Gularte will address the situation on her Creative Collaborations podcast Monday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.

Read more here:
I am still here: Stephanie Gularte on her health, and the future of American Stage - St Pete Catalyst

The 1996 film Twister has stood the test of time. It has everything you'd need for a perfect action film -- Steven Spielberg as executive producer, Michael Crichton as screenwriter, and Jan De Bont ,who directed Speed, leading the charge onset (that's why the car scenes are so good). It's no wonder it was a biggest box office hit when it was released. (It was surpassed only by Independence Day.)

The film follows two storm chasers who are also an estranged couple on the verge of divorce, Bill and Jo, played by Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt. Inspired byThe Wizard of Oz, they created a machine they named "Dorothy," which they believe will help give people more time to prepare before severe storms hit. Accompanied by their misfit group of storm chaser friends and Bill's fiance Melissa (Jami Gertz), Bill and Jo set out to release their creation into the eye of the storm. There's some competition to get there first between the gang and Jonas, the cocky meteorologist (Cary Elwes) and nothing really goes as planned on their wild ride. The film delivers multiple incredible tornado scenes that still feel almost too real today.

Here are some things you probably didn't know about the beloved film.

Who could forget Hoffman's unique character, Dusty, who jammed out to music videos whenever they were driving into the action and regaled Melissa with stories of Bill's days as "The Extreme." He told Esquire that he took the role because he was trying to move across the country and needed the paycheck. Fair enough.

"I was living in L.A. at the time....and I knew if I took that job, I'd be able to move back to New York."

Paxton told Entertainment Weekly that in order to make the weather look accurate, there were a lot of lights on set that ended up giving him and Hunt temporary blindness. Luckily, there was no permanent damage after a few days. They wore special glasses and the crew put a filter over the lights.

"Those lights, they were like sun balls," says Paxton. "They had to pump light into the cab to get the exposure down, to make the sky behind us look dark, stormy. Because it was too bright outside. And these things literally sunburned our eyeballs. I got back to my room, I couldn't see."

Whedon, who is now known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Toy Storyand The Avengers, was brought on to help with rewrites. After getting bronchitis, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Schindler's List, Steven Zaillian, was brought in. Whedon came back to help one more time before leaving again to get married.

According to Entertainment Weekly, De Bont threw a camera assistant into the mud at one point for ruining a take and even had up to 20 people just completely leave the set due to his intense attitude. But De Bont defended his actions, saying that it was a really difficult story to capture on film.

"With the wind machines it was very loud," says De Bont, "so the crew had to watch my hand signals. I cued action, and he [walked] right in the middle of the scene. We kept losing good performances because of stupid things like that. I don't think I'm a hothead, but I do believe you have to be passionate. These crews get paid well, and when they screw up, I'm going to call them on it."

Though there were certain scenes shot in Iowa, like the cornfield, the majority of filming took place around the state of Oklahoma. Apparently the original plan was to film in California but De Bont refused to film anywhere other than the heart of the real tornado alley.

The real-life small town was first scouted as a solid film location since it was not only tiny, but also had already endured some damage from a hailstorm a couple of years prior. Apparently, local residents were paid $100 a day to be extras in the film, and an older part of the town was even demolished during filming (on purpose, of course) to capture the aftermath of the tornado that ripped apart Aunt Meg's house.

Now the town has a museum dedicated to the film that's full of memorabilia including one of the Dorothy models. There's even a Twister-themed pinball machine that Paxton gifted to the museum. The film helped keep Wakita alive and even features a walking tour throughout to see all of the film locations. According to the museum's website, the town's residents loved Bill Paxton during filming as he was known to have a football on him at all times to play catch with the extras.

According to Variety, the film altered sounds from a camel's moan to create the sounds of the twister. That's one way to do it. Other reports have also claimed that a lion's roar was also added in to create the "roar" of the wind.

Luckily,producers worried that tagline would be taken too far by critics who didn't like the film, so this was changed to "the dark side of nature." Probably a good call.

Paxton told the AV Club that there had been talk of a sequel but nothing had happened. He even had a great idea for it because he felt the original was too "Pepsi Lite."

"There's a tougher version of that movie that I think now... I've kind of designed it so that me and Helen [Hunt] would have a daughter, a junior in high school, but she's already dating a guy in college, and we'd kind of hand it off to them. There's a great story of the Tri-State Tornado I'd like to tie into it as well."

Can you imagine watching country sensation Garth Brooks chasing around an f5 tornado instead of Bill Paxton? Well, according to a 2013 lawsuit,Brooks turned down the role because the twister was the real star of the film. The lawsuit was filed by Brooks' former employee Lisa Sanderson. Brooks has never publicly addressed the allegations. In 2014, Brooks won the lawsuit against Sanderson.

Michael Crichton and his wife, Anne-Marie Martin, were hired by Speilberg to write the script. You might remember another movie they worked on together...Jurassic Park. When an aspiring screenwriter sued Crichton and the studio saying that he had already pitched a script that was similar, Crichton claimed that the story was inspired by the film His Girl Friday as well as seeing real storm chasers on the TV.

Does anyone else find it weird that a film that came out in the mid-'90s has better special effects than movies coming out today? Just me? Well, apparently the Academy was so impressed that the film scored nominations for Best Sound as well as Best Visual Effects. You literally see a drive-in movie screen ripped apart so that seems pretty well deserved.

Is nothing sacred Hollywood?? According to Variety, Joseph Kosinski, director of the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick film is in discussions to direct. We can only hope that they do the beloved blockbuster justice as well as the late, great Bill Paxton.

Excerpt from:
'Twister' Was Filmed in a Small Oklahoma Town, Which Has a Museum Dedicated to the Film - Wide Open Country

Right now, a global infection is spreading from person to person, leading many to sickness and even death. We are not talking about the coronavirus. But it goes hand in hand with this other insidious plague.

The global spread in question is what researchers call an infodemic an oversupply of information, carrying with it fake news, rumours, and conspiracy theories that put people in harm's way. Bad ideas and poor advice, shared amongst friends, family, and total strangers alike.

In theory, an infodemic could attach to anything. This time, it's COVID-19. And it's a hugely serious problem that amplifies and extends the already grave dangers of the coronavirus crisis.

In a new study, an international team of infectious disease researchers scoured social media and news websites to monitor how COVID-19 misinformation was circulating on online platforms.

In total, they identified over 2,300 reports of COVID-19-related rumours, stigma, and conspiracy theories, communicated in 25 languages from 87 different countries.

None of this misinformation is helpful even if it's intended to be and much of it is harmful. In some cases, it's lethal, leading to preventable death and injury on a truly tragic scale.

"For example, a popular myth that consumption of highly concentrated alcohol could disinfect the body and kill the virus was circulating in different parts of the world," the authors write in their study.

"Following this misinformation, approximately 800 people have died, whereas 5,876 have been hospitalised and 60 have developed complete blindness after drinking methanol as a cure of coronavirus."

That incident, centred in Iran, might be the worst example of infodemic-related death, injury, and misery. But it's far from the only one the team found.

A similar event claiming the lives of 30 people was reported in Turkey, the researchers say, while in Qatar, two men died from ingesting either surface disinfectant or alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

In India, a dozen people became ill after drinking alcohol made from toxic datura seeds, having watched a video on social media that claimed it would boost their immunity against COVID-19. Five of the imbibers were children.

Of course, not every dangerous fallacy about coronavirus leads to hospitalisations that make headlines. Yet so many twisted ideas are out there and being shared, the researchers found, which people suggest can kill, cure, or prevent coronavirus things like drinking bleach, drinking cow urine and cow dung, ingesting silver solution, or spraying chlorine all over your body.

In the midst of this swirl of misinformation, even relatively benign mistruths can become dangerous in the wrong hands, the researchers say.

"A church in South Korea, where a spray bottle was used to spray salt water among the church attendees, resulted in more than 100 infections among the attendees because of spraying contaminated water," the team explains describing an incident in which the nozzle of a spray bottle was repeatedly put inside the mouths of different members of the congregation, without being disinfected.

The infodemic doesn't just perpetuate claims about false cures, though. It also has a lot to say about the origins of coronavirus, how you can catch it, and racial aspersions about who's to blame.

Some from the long list of examples includes: coronavirus is a type of rabies; mobile phones can transmit coronavirus; coronavirus is an engineered bio-weapon; coronavirus was made to sell vaccines; coronavirus was manufactured by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Donald Trump/the CIA/China (etc.); coronavirus is a population control scheme. And so on, and so on.

The researchers acknowledge a number of limitations to their study, and point out that they didn't investigate or follow up on the misinformation they discovered online, nor determine the number of people who believed in any given rumour or conspiracy.

Nonetheless, they did find all this misinformation freely circulating on publicly accessible websites and social media. That's the heart of the issue: the coronavirus infodemic is out there for all to see and it's a problem we need to actively counter, the researchers say.

"Misinformation fuelled by rumours, stigma, and conspiracy theories can have potentially serious implications on the individual and community if prioritised over evidence-based guidelines," the team writes.

"Health agencies must track misinformation associated with COVID-19 in real time, and engage local communities and government stakeholders to debunk misinformation."

The findings are reported in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Continued here:
Pandemic Conspiracies And Rumours Have Killed Over 800 People, Study Shows - ScienceAlert

09 Aug 2020 | 05:59am ISTSince 2012, the State of Goa has been hearing about the Rs 35,000 crore mining scam, which is double the size of the States budget. The amount of illegal mining in the State was estimated by the Justice MB Shah Commission report. Thereafter, the Public Accounts Committee headed by former Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar found the figure to be Rs 3,400-odd crore and not Rs 35,000 crore. But sadly, the State has shown no inclination to recover this loot. Till date only Rs 3.99 crore has been recovered by the State despite sending notices to the companies in the year 2016 and 2017. SURAJ NANDREKAR looks at the status of the recovery so far, the Goa Foundation petition in the Court that is also demanding recovery and whats holding the State back

SURAJ NANDREKAR

On August 4, 2020 the State government agreed to the demands of the PIL filed by the Goa Foundation seeking directions to it to recover Rs 3,431 crores from mining companies on several counts within a time-bound period.

After the State's Advocate General (AG) told the Court that the amount was recoverable, the High Court Bench recorded the undertaking of the Goa government that orders would be passed on all the demand notices issued to mining companies within a period of four months.

The Court recorded that the Director of Mines would first deal with the demand notices issued (for Rs 1,508 crores) to mining companies, pursuant to the report of the team of Chartered Accountants appointed by Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar.

Thereafter, the Department would enforce the notices raised pursuant to the report of the Auditor General (CAG) in his 2016 report (Rs 1922 crores).

The total of both reports amounts to Rs 3431.31 crores. The demand notices on the report of the team of CAs were issued in 2016.

The Supreme Court in 2018 set aside the 88 mining lease orders, and from there on onwards, the State economy has come under due stress.

But shockingly, despite this, the State has made no attempts to recover the Rs 3,414 crore. This is at a time, when the State is borrowing over Rs 300 crore every month to meet the expenses.

Also during the COVID-19 crisis, the State has opted to withdraw from mining funds and not try and recover money from the mining firms.

It goes without saying that Goa government is badly in need of funds for COVID pandemic management and for continuing grants under its various schemes.

But shockingly, the State Government has decided instead to raid the coffers of the District Mineral Foundations of the state up to 30% of the Funds lying with these foundations. This would work out to Rs 60 crores (taking both DMFs).

Sadly, there are several proposals from mining affected persons and village communities for use of these DMF funds pending before the DMF which have not been attended to. That is the original objective of those DMF funds. But the government is not willing to recover Rs 3431.31 crore from mining lease holders

As per information available the largest amounts are due from Sesa Resources Ltd., (Rs 351.44 crores) Sesa Mining Corp Ltd., (Rs 267.89 crores), G.N Agarwal (Rs 203.14 crores), Lima Leitao & Co. (Rs 164.67 crores) and Vedanta Ltd., (Rs 113.29 crores).The Goa Foundation filed the PIL when it became apparent that the Goa government was not pursuing the matter of recovery of these huge amounts with any zeal. It sought as interim relief, a restraint on grant of any mining business to any of the entities till the amounts demanded were paid by them.

Two other petitions filed by the Goa Foundation for recovery from mining companies are pending hearing before the High Court. The first involves recovery of around Rs 1000 crores from mining companies who mined without being in possession of a valid mining lease. A second PIL demands recovery of Rs 65,058 crores due from the entire mining industry for conducting mining operations without being in possession of a mining lease for five years (2007-2012).

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court declared all mining carried out in the State of Goa from 2007 to 2012 as illegal.

There is also a specific direction from the Apex Court for expeditious recovery of these amounts which is not being implemented by the State of Goa.

Interestingly, after conducting enquiries and also relaying upon enquiries done by the Auditor General, Goa; demand notices for Rs 3431.31 crores were issued to various parties for recovery but shockingly despite a direction from the Apex Court in its judgement dated 7.2.2018, only Rs 3.99 crores recovered.

The first set of notices for recovery of 1,508.70 crores was issued in 2016 pursuant to the Mining Audit Report of the team of Chartered Accountants appointed by the State Govt to advise the Government on recoveries to be made from mining companies for discrepancies in payments made vis-a-vis the ore that was actually extracted and consequent loss of revenue to the State.

The second set of notices for recovery of 1,922.61 crores was issued in 2017 puruant to the report of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Goa) office.

The notices were served post hearings in the Supreme Court filed by Goa Foundation, wherein the Supreme Court accepted the undertaking of the Goa Government that it would launch its own probe into the violations and theft of public resources by lease holders in Goa and take necessary action for recovery of the amounts, after issuing appropriate show causes and giving the parties opportunity to reply.

After the judgment dated 21.04.2014 (Goa Foundation I) was passed, the State government set up a 17-member team of Chartered Accountants to examine - the quantities that were handled by mining companies and observe discrepancies and advise the government on recovery in those cases, where there was obvious misappropriation and export of the mineral resources of the State.

It appears that simultaneously the Auditor Generals office in Goa had also been conducting its own inquiry into illegal mining.

While the Chartered Accountants team concentrated only on discrepancies between permitted and actual quantities of mineral ore extracted, the CAGs office concentrated on several other matters including non-payment of stamp duty, removal of ore without payment of royalty, etc.

Read more:
Selective blindness - Has the State WRITTEN-OFF the LOOT? - Oherald

A British TikToker has captivated social media with a simple explanation of how she both creates and consumes online content as a blind person.

Gracie Marsh, a 19-year-old disability advocate from England who went blind at age 14 due to Septo-optic dysplasia, shared a now-viral video on July 28 explaining how she operates her BrailleNote HumanWare Touch+.

Marsh demonstrates how the tablet, which allows those with visual impairments to read and write with ease, functions as she walks viewers through the keyboards nine main buttons the backspace, enter and space bars, as well as the six keys representing the six dots that make up the braille system.

The device also comes equipped with a touchscreen, which Marsh says is particularly useful for teachers and sighted peers.

Her insightful video has since racked up over 1.5M views on TikTok alone, plus 2.2M more on Twitter, along with tons of comments from viewers who were utterly impressed with the technology.

This is [a] true technological masterpiece! wrote one user.

This was really interesting to learn! Thanks for sharing with us, commented another.

This blows my mind, said a third.

Marsh, who was born with multiple chronic illnesses that have caused her to need a wheelchair, feeding tube and catheter, told In The Know that she started making TikToks for entertainment earlier this year before pivoting into disability awareness content after one of her videos went viral with over 450K views in June.

[A TikTok] where I did my makeup as a blind person kind of blew up, so I decided totry and build a bigger platform, Marsh, who now boasts over 28K followers, told In The Know.

With content ranging from rating her main diagnoses to how she uses an iPhone to how she dreams, Marsh says that her videos have been generally well-received.

She does, however, still occasionally get nasty or misinformed comments, including some that allege shes faking her condition.

Its been really positive overall, but I have received some comments questioning my blindness, she told In The Know. How are you blind if youre reading these comments? et cetera, even though thats been explained in many of my TikToks!

Ultimately, Marsh hopes that her informative and often humorous videos can serve to dispel stigmas surrounding the visually impaired and show the world exactly what shes capable of.

I think Id just like people to know that blindness, and disability in general, doesnt mean that individuals cant advocate for themselves, participate in normal activities and be independent, she said. Id like people to stop underestimating me and the disabled community as a whole!

These are the best tech gifts under $100:

If you enjoyed this article, read about TikToker Chrissy Marshall, who uses her experience as a deaf woman to educate millions.

More from In The Know:

Starbucks is opening its first sign language store in Japan

Deaf, transgender model Chella Man shares how to be a better ally for people with disabilities

Netflixs new show, Love on the Spectrum, highlights the dating lives of people with autism

Blind skateboarder Ryusei Ouchi has never let his disability hold him back

The post Teen reveals how shes able to read and type as a blind person appeared first on In The Know.

Original post:
Teen reveals how shes able to read and type as a blind person - Yahoo Lifestyle Australia

Patient Advisory Council to include advocates from the inherited retinal diseases global community

New Patient Advisory Council to focus initially on Companys clinical stage programs for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP)

GAINESVILLE, Fla., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: AGTC), a biotechnology company focused on developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene therapies for the treatment of rare inherited diseases, today announced the formation of a Patient Advisory Council to build on its focus of incorporating the patient and caregiver voice into the Companys culture and clinical and pre-clinical programs.

Engagement with patients and caregivers has provided AGTC with substantive information that has guided its clinical trial design, enhanced its understanding of retinal disorders, and inspired its patient centric culture. The Council, spearheaded by Jill Dolgin, PharmD, Head of Patient Advocacy at AGTC, is comprised of individuals with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and members from the global community of organizations that represent them.

Patient engagement will continue to be a critical success factor for our programs moving forward, and we are very pleased to formalize the establishment of this distinguished group of patient experts, especially as we move into the next phase of development for our X-linked retinitis pigmentosa gene therapy candidate, said Sue Washer, President and CEO of AGTC.

In July, AGTC announced next steps in the clinical development of the Companys potential treatment of XLRP caused by mutations in the RPGR gene following receipt of written feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AGTC is expanding the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial to dose additional patients in two masked dosing arms to collect additional functional data. In parallel, a planned Phase 2/3 trial, which is expected to begin in Q1 2021, will be designed to evaluate sustained efficacy across multiple measures of potential benefit in patients with XLRP.

We are delighted to be a part of this advisory council established by AGTC to lend our voice and collective experience that spans more than five decades in the search for treatments to address blindness and vision loss, said Brian Mansfield, PhD, Executive Vice President of Research and Interim Chief Scientific Officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Having the patients perspective at the center of clinical drug development is a crucial component for addressing the unmet needs of patients within the inherited retinal diseases community.

Organizations and advocate members of the Patient Advisory Council include:

About AGTC

AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing genetic therapies for people with rare and debilitating ophthalmic, otologic and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. AGTC is a leader in designing and constructing all critical gene therapy elements and bringing them together to develop customized therapies that address real patient needs. The Companys most advanced clinical programs leverage its best-in-class investigational technology platform to potentially improve vision for patients with an inherited retinal disease. AGTC has active clinical trials in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa and achromatopsia (ACHM CNGB3 & ACHM CNGA3). Its pre-clinical programs build on the Companys industry leading AAV manufacturing technology and scientific expertise. AGTC is advancing multiple important pipeline candidates to address substantial unmet clinical need in optogenetics, otology and CNS disorders.

About X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP)

XLRP is an inherited condition that causes progressive vision loss in boys and young men. Characteristics of the disease include night blindness in early childhood and progressive constriction of the visual field. In general, XLRP patients experience a gradual decline in visual acuity over the disease course, which results in legal blindness around the 4th decade of life.AGTC was grantedU.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) orphan drug designation in 2017, as well asEuropean Commissionorphan medicinal product designation in 2016, for its gene therapy product candidate to treat XLRP caused by mutations in the RPGR gene.

Story continues

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect AGTC's plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs, including statements regarding the timing for and expected expansion of its XLRP clinical development program, the timing for reporting data in its XLRP and ACHM clinical programs, and its ability to enroll patients, effectively design and successfully complete its ongoing clinical trials. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed preclinical and clinical product development and regulatory progress, future results of operations, financial guidance, business strategies and operations, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities, the effects of competition and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "seeks," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, due to a number of important factors. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include, among others: gene therapy is still novel with only a few approved treatments so far; AGTC cannot predict when or if it will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize a product candidate or receive reasonable reimbursement; uncertainty inherent in clinical trials and the regulatory review process; risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization; the direct and indirect impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, results of operations, and financial condition; factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Companys most recent annual or quarterly report and in other reports AGTC has filed with theSEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent management's plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, AGTC assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

IR/PR CONTACTS:David Carey (IR) or Glenn Silver (PR)Lazar FINN PartnersT: (212) 867-1768 or (646) 871-8485david.carey@finnpartners.com or glenn.silver@finnpartners.com

Corporate Contact:Bill SullivanChief Financial OfficerApplied Genetic Technologies CorporationT: (617) 843-5728bsullivan@agtc.com

Stephen PotterChief Business OfficerApplied Genetic Technologies CorporationT: (617) 413-2754spotter@agtc.com

View post:
AGTC Formalizes Patient Advisory Council to Provide Insights and Guidance on Patient Perspectives for Pipeline Therapies - Yahoo Finance