PUBLICATION EXCLUSIVE: ASCRS Research Council aims to mirror success of DRCR.net

The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network is a collaboration among the National Eye Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, industry and more than 400 committed retina specialists at 120 practices. The purpose of DRCR.net is to facilitate multicenter clinical research into diabetes-associated eye disease, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataract, glaucoma, vitreous hemorrhage and other eye conditions. The network is funded primarily by federal grants from the NEI along with industry. As discussed in the accompanying cover story, DRCR.net clinical trials have contributed greatly to our understanding and treatment of diabetic eye disease.

The DRCR.net was established in September 2002 and is a fantastic example of public-private collaboration. This constructive collaboration has generated nearly 30 clinical trial protocols and more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and dramatically impacted the treatment of patients worldwide. Participation is open to any retina specialist who meets the training and practice profile requirements. In addition, any retina specialist can submit a study protocol idea. The network chair is Lee Jampol, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The coordinating center is the Jaeb Center for Health Research in Tampa, Florida, directed by Adam R. Glassman, MS, and Roy W. Beck, MD, PhD. The NEI DRCR.net Project Officer is Eleanor Schron, PhD, RN.

The knowledge gained from the multiple clinical trials and publications is nothing short of amazing. For example, we have learned that in DME focal/grid photocoagulation is superior to intravitreal triamcinolone; treatment of DME with good visual acuity is not necessary; intravitreal anti-VEGF is effective for visually significant DME; panretinal photocoagulation in one sitting is equally efficacious as when divided into four treatment sessions; OCT is a useful measure of DME and response to therapy; macular thickness measurements are variable using different OCT devices but can be normalized to one another; and subclinical DME progresses to visually significant DME in 25% to 50% of patients. The groundbreaking DRCR.net study comparing the three commercially available anti-VEGF agents confirmed comparative efficacy for all three in DME patients with vision of 20/40 or better but better outcomes with Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) when vision was 20/50 or worse has significantly impacted treatment decisions and reimbursement worldwide.

Click here to read the full publication exclusive, Lindstrom's Perspective, published in Ocular Surgery News U.S. Edition, March 25, 2017.