Macular Society partners with Ora to increase participation in clinical research

The Macular Society has teamed up with ophthalmic device development firm Ora in a bid to increase patient participation in clinical trials.

It is hoped that the partnership will help to support the advancement of new treatment options in eye care in the UK.

Currently, only 3% of patients in the UK ever take part in a clinical trial.

The Macular Society and Ora are hoping to educate patients and increase awareness of clinical research within local communities in the UK.

They hope that focusing on ‘patient centricity’ will help to spread the message and increase participation in trials.

Ora has previously worked to increase awareness about the scope and breadth of ongoing ophthalmic clinical trials amongst patients, with the aim of improving understanding of clinical research as a care option and enhancing the patient experience during the study process.

Geraldine Hoad, research manager for the Macular Society, noted that macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, and has a devastating impact on people’s lives.

She said: “Patients play a vital role in research. Without them, new treatments would not be developed and the progress we have seen to date would not be possible.

“By working with Ora, we hope we can encourage more patients to take part in these trials and understand the wide-ranging benefits of being involved in research.”

Sally Tucker, vice president of Ora Europe, added: “People with chronic conditions such as dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) don’t have any current avenues for treatment, and without clinical research, they may be left without any ability to manage their conditions on a day-to-day basis.

“For these people, a lack of treatment can impact their ability to function in everyday life. We know there is a lack of awareness and education surrounding clinical research at patient level, and together with the Macular Society, we aim to change this so that we can better understand the impact of these challenging diseases alongside how sponsors, researchers and ophthalmic professionals can provide innovative care options and pave a better path for clinical research in eye care across the UK.”