Short Course 9

Wednesday, September 23, 7:00-9:30 pm (Dinner provided.)

The goal of the workshop is to provide an introductory overview of current preclinical animal models for ocular indications. The presentations will focus on models for Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma. An overview of the characteristics of different animal models, their pros and cons and potential uses will be discussed.

Instructors:

Andy Whitlock, Ph.D., Senior Director, Pre-Clinical Research & Development, Ophthalmology, Ora, Inc.
Goldis Malek, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine
Maria B. Grant, M.D., FARVO, Professor, Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University

Selecting the Best Animal Model for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Instructor: Andy Whitlock, Ph.D., Senior Director, Pre-Clinical Research & Development, Ophthalmology, Ora, Inc.

This part of the course will concentrate on what considerations need to be taken when choosing an animal model for glaucoma pharmacology studies. This discussion will include a brief review on the indication itself, and then a deeper discussion on available animal models that replicate the various aspects of this complex disease. Special distinctions will be made between glaucoma models used for studying ocular hypertension and those used for studying retinal neuroprotection. The course will also address special considerations around drug delivery for this indication and in the various animal models.

The Utilities and Challenges Surrounding Available Animal Models of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Instructor: Goldis Malek, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke University School of Medicine

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly in the Western world. Over the last thirty years, our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease has grown exponentially thanks to the results of countless epidemiology, genetic, histological, and biochemical studies. This information, in turn, has led to the recognition of multiple biologic pathways potentially involved in development and progression of AMD, including but not limited to inflammation, lipid and extracellular matrix dysregulation, and angiogenesis. Further understanding of the progression of this multi-factorial and complex disease, as well as identification of critical signaling pathways that could potentially be targeted for therapy, relies on the development of animal models that faithfully recapitulate the pathogenesis of AMD. In this course we will review what is known about the pathobiology of the clinical sub-types of AMD, along with the current literature of available animal models of AMD and their utility as potential platforms to test therapies.

Animal Models for Diabetic Retinopathy

Instructor: Maria B. Grant, M.D., FARVO, Professor, Ophthalmology, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University

New and cost-effective therapies for treating diabetic retinopathy, particularly the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, are urgently needed. Animal models that develop lesions that are characteristic of human disease play a crucial role in understanding pathogenesis and for testing new therapies before clinical trials. The success of each study depends largely on the choice of the appropriate animal models and this is largely driven by the experimental design and research focus. Choosing the optimal animal model of DR is critical. This decision should include such key concepts as i) the structural and biochemical features of the visual system compared with humans; ii) the ability to perform genetic manipulations; iii) the availability and cost; iv) methods available for disease characterization; and v) time course of histological changes.