The Precision Ocular Biobank is the only Certified post-mortem ocular biobank in the U.S.
“Researchers who receive biospecimens from a CTRNet certified biobank can be assured that all personnel are knowledgeable about international best practices and ethical principles, which will enhance the quality and reproducibility of their work and help meet regulatory and publication standards,” says Dr. Peter Watson, BC Cancer Staff Pathologist and Senior Scientist, Principle Incwestigator, CTRNet.
Supported by
“Advancing Sight Research has provided pristine human ocular tissues for our glaucoma research for over fifteen years. These tissues have enabled fundamental discoveries into the pathogenesis of glaucoma and variation in individual susceptibility to this blinding disease.”
The Precision Ocular Biobank Offers a New Level of Service and Tissue Quality
Low Death to Preservation Time
Prevents alterations in time-sensitive biochemicals and delicate retinal structures which can exclude meaningful analysis
Comprehensive medical information
Additional information to the limited medical summaries researchers typically receive from eye banks including redacted records, ophthalmology charting and testing
Verification of donor medical history and eye disease
Achieved through retinal disease grading of post-mortem images, extensive medical records and consults with treating physicians
Additional information and findings on the tissue not included in medical charting
We have experience identifying diseases and ocular conditions in post-mortem tissues which the patient might never have sought treatment for. Laboratory methodologies include slit-lamp evaluations, multimodal imaging followed by image analysis and disease state grading.
Attention to detail in sample preparation and preservation
Meticulous sample dissection and long-term preparation honors the anatomic gift by increasing the utility to researchers
Diverse Tissue Types Offered
Posterior Poles
Whole Globes
Sclera
Trabecular Meshwork
Cornea
Optic Nerve
Lens
Retina
Retinal Pigment Epithelial
Vitreous
Iris
To get started receiving tissue, please contact us for a research application to let us know your area of interest and specific application.
Introduces a new resource to accelerate therapies and cures for eye diseases
Made possible with a generous grant from Alpha Foundation, Inc.
Improving the Human Condition Through Grants to Educational, Scientific and Charitable Organizations
- Genetic screening for 25 genes and 39 variants on eye donors
- SNPs associated with risk/protective effects in Fuch’s Dystrophy, AMD and Glaucoma – Diseases causing vision loss in > 30 million
- Custom designed, multiple disease pathway gene panel created with input from leading experts in Academia and Industry
- Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) powered by TargetRich™ of
An Untapped Resource for Accelerating Neuroscience Drug Discovery & Development
Vitreous Humor Drug Discovery & Development, Drug Validations and Device Testing
Alabama Nonprofit Partners with Huntsville Genetics Company to Cure Blinding Diseases
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — August 2020 — Two Alabama-based organizations are partnering to find cures for common diseases that cause blindness for millions of people worldwide.
In an effort to help medical researchers develop new treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases, Advancing Sight Network and Kailos Genetics created the OcularGeneScreen, a new genetic screening panel, to be used with eye tissue from post-mortem eye donors. The screening will help determine which genes are associated with eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and Fuch’s Dystrophy.
A new resource for helping patients with vision-threatening diseases
Responding to the critical shortage of high-quality human eye research tissue to support medical research, the Advancing Sight Network developed the Precision Ocular Biobank. An innovative program that allows patients to sign up to a database, knowing that when they pass, their eyes will be used in high-impact scientific studies to better understand the human vision and combat eye diseases that cause vision loss. The eye tissues provided to researchers will be accompanied by comprehensive medical information and detailed analysis of the tissue, including ocular imaging.
“The state-of-the-art equipment in our Precision Ocular Biobank is used to image, process and preserve the eye tissue – giving researchers the highest quality tissues samples required for their exacting studies. The goal is the acceleration of the development of new cures for diseases such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.”
Dr. Gregory Grossman
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Gregory Grossman has over 18 years of clinical and research experience and serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at the Advancing Sight, providing administrative leadership and scientific oversight for the Precision Ocular Biobank. He received his biomedical PhD with honors in neuroscience from Kent State University and completed a fellowship in retinal disorders at the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute. He has authored numerous articles, book chapters and has been a sponsored presenter at symposiums throughout the world. Gregory has a broad range of experience in ophthalmology, having expertise in both anterior and posterior ocular diseases. He also has experience in eye banking, having managed clinical operations of the Cleveland Eye Bank, and serving as the Director of Research for a large eye banking system. Gregory holds certifications in eye banking (CEBT) and conducting clinical trials (CCRP), and is board certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS). He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Eye Bank Association of America, International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, the Society of Clinical Research Associates and serves on the Scientific Programs Committee of the Eye Banking Association of America and Fight For Sight Scientific Review Committee.
Our Distinguished Research Partners
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