# Age-related Macular Degeneration ## expand\_more ![HMS Ophthalmology Center of Excellence](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/eye/files/shield_0.png?itok=EkJmwAOl) **Center of Excellence** ![Example of AMD](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/eye/files/copy_of_untitled.png) Sort**Co-Directors** [Patricia A. D'Amore, PhD, MBA](/patriciadamore) [Deeba Husain, MD](/deebahusain) [Ivana K. Kim, MD](/ivanakim) **Members** [See a list of AMD faculty](/faculty/amd) ## Overview The Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Center of Excellence is dedicated to unraveling the complex and multifactorial causes of AMD and to advance prevention and treatment. Their research focuses on: - Retina neural and retinal pigment epithelial cell biology - Inflammation - Metabolism - Neuroprotection - Genetics - Drug discovery AMD occurs in neovascular ("wet" or exudative) and nonneovascular ("dry" or nonexudative) forms, and, according to the World Health Organization, it is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and ranks third worldwide after cataract and glaucoma. ## Major Research Breakthroughs Investigators in the center have made many groundbreaking contributions to the understanding and treatment of AMD. In the last 20 years, they have: - Developed photodynamic therapy with verteporfin, the first FDA-approved drug treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - Performed foundational research demonstrating the key role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leading to the development of five anti-VEGF therapies: pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab (used off label), aflibercept, and brolucizumab - Developed optical coherence tomography for ocular imaging, which is the mainstay for management of patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion - Worked toward modeling photoreceptor cell loss in nonhuman primates and tested neuroprotection agents - Generated pilot data that suggest the effectiveness of high-dose statins in the treatment of some dry AMD - Pioneered plasma metabolomics in AMD ## 2020 Vision: Promising Areas for Future Research Our researchers are currently working to advance the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AMD. They are working to clarify AMD subtypes and develop effective treatments for early/intermediate AMD and neuroprotection. ## Biennial Symposium Launched in 2010, the Biennial International Symposium on AMD brings together international experts from a diverse array of fields, as well as leaders from related disciplines outside ophthalmology in an interactive format to discuss current and future topics in AMD research. [**Learn more**](/amd/symposium) ## **Recent News** Read [Harvard Ophthalmology’s Newsfeed](https://prod-eye.drupalsites.harvard.edu/news?f%5B0%5D=hwp_c_category1%3A65281) or visit Mass. Eye and Ear’s [*Focus blog*](https://focus.masseyeandear.org/?s=macular+degeneration) ## Recent Publications Download 4 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36001&&&format=ris) ### 2024 Blinder K, Calhoun C, Maguire M, Glassman A, Mein C, Baskin D, Vieyra G, Jampol L, Chica M, Sun J, Martin D, DRCR Retina Network. [Home OCT Imaging for Newly Diagnosed Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Feasibility Study](/publications/home-optical-coherence-tomography-imaging-newly-diagnosed-neovascular-age-related). Ophthalmol Retina. 2024;8(4):376–387. PMID: 37879537 Blinder K, Calhoun C, Maguire M, Glassman A, Mein C, Baskin D, Vieyra G, Jampol L, Chica M, Sun J, Martin D, DRCR Retina Network. [Home OCT Imaging for Newly Diagnosed Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Feasibility Study](/publications/home-optical-coherence-tomography-imaging-newly-diagnosed-neovascular-age-related). Ophthalmol Retina. 2024;8(4):376–387. PMID: 37879537 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of daily Home OCT imaging among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with ≥ 1 eye with previously untreated nAMD and... Advani J, Mehta P, Hamel A, Mehrotra S, Kiel C, Strunz T, Corso-Díaz X, Kwicklis M, Asten F, Ratnapriya R, Chew E, Hernandez D, Montezuma S, Ferrington D, Weber B, Segrè A, Swaroop A. [QTL mapping of human retina DNA methylation identifies 87 gene-epigenome interactions in age-related macular degeneration](/publications/qtl-mapping-human-retina-dna-methylation-identifies-87-gene-epigenome-interactions). Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):1972. PMID: 38438351 Advani J, Mehta P, Hamel A, Mehrotra S, Kiel C, Strunz T, Corso-Díaz X, Kwicklis M, Asten F, Ratnapriya R, Chew E, Hernandez D, Montezuma S, Ferrington D, Weber B, Segrè A, Swaroop A. [QTL mapping of human retina DNA methylation identifies 87 gene-epigenome interactions in age-related macular degeneration](/publications/qtl-mapping-human-retina-dna-methylation-identifies-87-gene-epigenome-interactions). Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):1972. PMID: 38438351 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract DNA methylation provides a crucial epigenetic mark linking genetic variations to environmental influence. We have analyzed array-based DNA methylation profiles of 160 human retinas with co-measured RNA-seq and >8 million genetic variants, uncovering sites... ### 2023 Blazaki S, Blavakis E, Chlouverakis G, Bontzos G, Chatziralli I, Smoustopoulos G, Dimitriou E, Stavrakakis A, Kabanarou S, Xirou T, Vavvas D, Tsilimbaris M. [Evolution of macular atrophy in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration compared to fellow non-neovascular eyes](/publications/evolution-macular-atrophy-eyes-neovascular-age-related-macular-degeneration). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023;261(12):3425–3436. PMID: 37566302 Blazaki S, Blavakis E, Chlouverakis G, Bontzos G, Chatziralli I, Smoustopoulos G, Dimitriou E, Stavrakakis A, Kabanarou S, Xirou T, Vavvas D, Tsilimbaris M. [Evolution of macular atrophy in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration compared to fellow non-neovascular eyes](/publications/evolution-macular-atrophy-eyes-neovascular-age-related-macular-degeneration). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023;261(12):3425–3436. PMID: 37566302 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PURPOSE: Τo evaluate the evolution of macular atrophy (MA) in patients with neovascular AMD (nAMD), compared with their fellow eyes exhibiting dry AMD (dAMD). METHODS: This retrospective study included 124 patients from three centers treated with anti... Pundlik S, Shivshanker P, Nigalye A, Luo G, Husain D. [Evaluation of a mobile app for dark adaptation measurement in individuals with age-related macular degeneration](/publications/evaluation-mobile-app-dark-adaptation-measurement-individuals-age-related-macular). Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):22191. PMID: 38092820 Pundlik S, Shivshanker P, Nigalye A, Luo G, Husain D. [Evaluation of a mobile app for dark adaptation measurement in individuals with age-related macular degeneration](/publications/evaluation-mobile-app-dark-adaptation-measurement-individuals-age-related-macular). Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):22191. PMID: 38092820 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract We present clinical evaluation of a mobile app for dark adaptation (DA) measurement in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients and in older adults (age > 50 years) without AMD or other retinal disorders (NV). The outcome measures were the area... [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/topic/amd)