The Eye Defects Research Foundation, a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was
founded in 1994 with the intention of
conducting research and providing
financial support for a group of
children with rare eye defects leading
to pediatric blindness. In addition to
stimulating research, the Foundation has
supported seven international
conferences on Genetic Disease and the
Eye, in order to educate physicians in
the treatment of these rare disorders.
Over the past ten years, we have
performed pediatric corneal transplants
on over 100 children from ten different
countries and provided financial support
for costly anti-rejection medication. In
2008 we made a ground-breaking surgical
advance by supporting an artificial
pediatric corneal transplant or
keratoprosthesis.
We have also been actively involved in
molecular genetic research to uncover
molecular defects, in order to
ultimately treat corneal diseases using
gene therapy. For one such disease,
keratoconus disease that starts in the
teens and is the most common cause of
corneal transplants in the Western world
over the past fifteen years we have
received over $10 million dollars in
research funding from the federal
government. Our research group
identified the first molecular defect
ever described for this disease. This
finding could possibly lead to a
molecular genetic test for keratoconus,
and ultimately gene therapy to prevent
the progression of keratoconus. Our
research has proved to be so promising
that in 2008 we received a commitment of
over $3.5 million dollars from the
federal government to pursue this line
of research.
With exciting new advances and
possibilities brought about by
innovative progress in stem cell
therapy, we are focusing heavily on this
avenue of research. Our aim is not only
to support stem cell therapy for
pediatric blinding eye diseases, but
also macular degeneration, the most
common cause of blindness in adults over
age seventy.
These are exciting times, and with your
help there is hope that treatment for
blinding eye diseases can become a
reality. Please support our Foundation
and help us discover cures that will
enhance the quality of the lives of
those less fortunate than us.
Sincerely,
Yaron S. Rabinowitz M.D.
Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
UCLA School of Medicine
Director of. Ophthalmology Research
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Founder and Medical Director
The Eye Defects Research Foundation
