Retinal International
About Foresight | Affiliations | Retinal International
www.retina-international.org
Retina International is a voluntary charitable umbrella association of 34 national societies, each of which is formed by people with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Usher Syndrome, Macular Degeneration and allied retinal dystrophies, their families and friends.
The main objective is to promote the search for a treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Usher Syndrome, Macular Degeneration and allied retinal dystrophies, with the main emphasis given to inherited forms of retinal dystrophies.
Retina International was created by the member societies to help them achieve their purposes. The main method of doing this is through the exchange of ideas and information, both lay and scientific, and the encouragement of co-operation among member societies. Retina International also represents the member societies collectively to supernational organisations.
What the individual organisations have achieved under the umbrella of RI is by raising awareness of these diseases and promoting research projects in the scientific community that there is now real progress towards a cure.
There is a huge amount of respect from leading scientists for RI and Christina Fasser, The President of Retinal International. The united efforts of the president, the Management Committee and delegates (i.e. patients and sufferers) have changed the course of research maintaining a focus on viable scientific research. Ten years work has already been done by members of Retina International that has placed eye research in the top 5 research topics in the EU. Resulting in 10 million Euros being allocated to 17 centres in Europe for vision research projects this year (2004). However the membership of RI is not just EU centred. Collaboration between these countries has been at the forefront initially; however, now the intention of RI is to become worldwide to include Asia/Pacific and the Middle East regions.
Foresight is privileged to belong to this inspirational organisation and has received great support and advice for our work in this region. There is intense scientific interest in the field of retinal research in the Middle East region and we can contribute.