The Vision of Children Foundation Brings Together Foremost Experts on Genetic Vision Disorders at World Symposium
The Vision of Children Foundation (VOC), a non-profit organization focused on finding a cure for hereditary childhood blindness, today announced that renowned researchers from around the world gathered in San Diego at the Seventh World Symposium on Genetic Vision Disorders. Research results, new discoveries and a commitment for increasing collaboration were shared at the two-day event.
San Diego, CA, June 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Vision of Children Foundation (VOC), a non-profit organization focused on finding a cure for hereditary childhood blindness, today announced that renowned researchers from around the world gathered in San Diego at the Seventh World Symposium on Genetic Vision Disorders. Top institutions were represented including Jules Stein Eye Institute, Columbia University, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, and the National Eye Institute.
This year’s theme: “Understanding the Pathway – Discovering a Cure” was reflected in each of the presentations. This unique forum brought together top vision and genetic eye researchers to openly discuss the latest discoveries and research efforts involving ocular albinism (OA) and related conditions. Encouraging updated reports from the human gene therapy trials that began a year ago provide continued hope for a cure.
“One of the most important outcomes of our Symposiums is the collaborative relationships that are formed,” said Sam Hardage, Chairman and Founder of The Vision of Children Foundation. “Working with limited funding and resources, we must all work together to keep progressing toward a cure. This forum builds trust, understanding and respect between various researchers, many who work thousands of miles apart from each other and may have never otherwise met. Our Symposium ended this year with a commitment to improved communication and addressing specific issues as a group. I am greatly encouraged by what I saw and heard.”
Underwriting for the symposium was generously provided by the County of San Diego through its Community Projects Grant Program, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, and the Hardage Group, along with private donors.
“The Vision of Children Foundation is an amazing partner in the battle to cure hereditary blindness,” said County of San Diego Supervisor Bill Horn. “I’m proud to be part of such a worthy cause.”
About Vision of Children
Established in 1991, the Vision of Children (VOC) Foundation’s mission is to cure hereditary childhood blindness and vision disorders, and to improve the quality of life of visually impaired individuals and their families. More than 850,000 children in the United States suffer from visual impairments. VOC is the only international, non-profit foundation that funds genetic vision research and facilitates communication between families, educators, healthcare professionals and researchers who care for these children. Currently, VOC supports 23 researchers at 12 institutions worldwide. With human gene therapy trials underway and initial results that are positive, the promise of a cure literally is within sight. Now more than ever, the Vision of Children Foundation remains fully committed to enabling thousands of children to see and participate in the world around them. For more information, visit http://www.visionofchildren.org/
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This year’s theme: “Understanding the Pathway – Discovering a Cure” was reflected in each of the presentations. This unique forum brought together top vision and genetic eye researchers to openly discuss the latest discoveries and research efforts involving ocular albinism (OA) and related conditions. Encouraging updated reports from the human gene therapy trials that began a year ago provide continued hope for a cure.
“One of the most important outcomes of our Symposiums is the collaborative relationships that are formed,” said Sam Hardage, Chairman and Founder of The Vision of Children Foundation. “Working with limited funding and resources, we must all work together to keep progressing toward a cure. This forum builds trust, understanding and respect between various researchers, many who work thousands of miles apart from each other and may have never otherwise met. Our Symposium ended this year with a commitment to improved communication and addressing specific issues as a group. I am greatly encouraged by what I saw and heard.”
Underwriting for the symposium was generously provided by the County of San Diego through its Community Projects Grant Program, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, and the Hardage Group, along with private donors.
“The Vision of Children Foundation is an amazing partner in the battle to cure hereditary blindness,” said County of San Diego Supervisor Bill Horn. “I’m proud to be part of such a worthy cause.”
About Vision of Children
Established in 1991, the Vision of Children (VOC) Foundation’s mission is to cure hereditary childhood blindness and vision disorders, and to improve the quality of life of visually impaired individuals and their families. More than 850,000 children in the United States suffer from visual impairments. VOC is the only international, non-profit foundation that funds genetic vision research and facilitates communication between families, educators, healthcare professionals and researchers who care for these children. Currently, VOC supports 23 researchers at 12 institutions worldwide. With human gene therapy trials underway and initial results that are positive, the promise of a cure literally is within sight. Now more than ever, the Vision of Children Foundation remains fully committed to enabling thousands of children to see and participate in the world around them. For more information, visit http://www.visionofchildren.org/
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Contact
Vision of Children Foundation
Michelle Pius
858-799-0723
visionofchildren.org
Cynthia Guiang
CG Communications
858-793-2471
Michelle Pius
858-799-0723
visionofchildren.org
Cynthia Guiang
CG Communications
858-793-2471
Contact
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