Vissum launches joint project for research and development in ophthalmology

ALICANTE, Spain — Vissum has launched a large national research project — combining the forces of companies, public and private clinics, and research institutes — aimed at developing personalized and minimally invasive ophthalmology.

"The principal aim of the Customized Eye Care program, CeyeC, is to increase the quality and decrease the aggressiveness of ophthalmic procedures, from diagnosis to surgical treatment," said Jorge Alió, MD, principal investigator and project leader.

The 46 organizations joining the program have formed a business research consortium with a total budget of €22 million, 50% of which is covered by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

CeyeC will focus on three main sectors: new diagnostic systems (physical and biological diagnosis), new treatments (drugs, regenerative medicine, cell therapy and gene therapy) and new prostheses (IOLs, intracorneal lenses and inlays, contact lenses, and artificial corneas).

"This project has no precedent in Spain," Dr. Alió noted. "It is the first time that groups of an economic nature have tried to coordinate forces and further develop applied research and technological progress in response to a very clear social and economic demand."

Ocular diseases and visual dysfunctions have a large and significant impact on the health and quality of life of the population worldwide, Dr. Alió noted. Making innovation and high standard care cost-effective and available to an increasing number of individuals is a challenge worth undertaking, he said.