EU COST Action CA18116 – Aniridia: networking to address an unmet medical, scientific, and societal challenge (ANIRIDIA-NET), 2019 – 2023

Action Coordinator and Main Proposer: Neil Lagali

7 partners from ARREST BLINDNESS were proposers in the recently granted COST Action ANIRIDIA-NET. This COST Action will exploit results produced during ARREST BLINDNESS. The goals of ANIRIDIA-NET are:

1. Build a large, inclusive EU network of ophthalmologists, scientists, trainees, aniridia patient organizations, industry, and special interest groups to create linkages and a rich training ground for a new generation of trainees;
2. Improve aniridia management through evidence-based research, harmonized clinical protocols, pooling/sharing of samples and models, and consensus activities; and
3. Stimulate development of novel diagnostics and treatments for aniridia based on innovative research in regenerative medicine/stem cells, investigational drugs, gene therapy, tissue engineering, transplantation, etc.

Although a rare disease, aniridia is associated with ocular surface pathology such as dry eye, inflammation, stem cell insufficiency, nerve degeneration, and vascularization – problems common to many ocular surface pathologies collectively affecting large populations. Greater collaboration and sharing of information and resources in the area of aniridia is therefore additionally expected to have significant benefits for the treatment of larger patient populations with ocular surface disease.

https://www.cost.eu/actions/