Each September during Healthy Aging Month, the vision community joins to recognize International Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Week. This continued acknowledgment of AMD is important, as it is a leading cause of blindness and low vision in the United States and the developed world. It destroys central vision through proliferation of new blood vessels (“wet” or neovascular AMD) or gradual breakdown of cells (“dry” AMD or geographic atrophy) in and around the light-sensitive retina. Since it affects the macula—the central part of the light sensitive back of the eye called the retina—AMD vision loss makes it difficult to read, drive, and perform everyday tasks, thereby...

Dear Research Advocate, Our National Health Research Forum kicks off on Monday, September 13, at 10:30 a.m. ET. We’re excited to announce that the event will open with remarks from First Lady Jill Biden, setting the tone for an extraordinary three days! There is no fee — everyone is welcome and there will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to join in the discussions. Register now , read through our amazing agenda , and log in starting tomorrow to check out the virtual environment! On the Hill: With the federal fiscal year ending on 9/30, September is always a very busy month in Washington. House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats have released a summary of the legislative package...

Dear Research Advocate, Clarity is all-too elusive right now. On so many decisions, it can feel like we’re staring through soot-covered glass. Clarity — unvarnished truths and concrete solutions — is the thread that ties together every feature of our 2021 National Health Research Forum. See more on the Forum below. A Welcome Piece of Clarity : The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week for ages 16 and up. The fast-paced, but thorough approval process is testament to the speed at which research and policy can move in concert when urgency brings sufficient resources to bear. We’re grateful the FDA is applying the same level of diligence to ensuring vaccines will be safe...

Dear Research Advocate, This week, amidst the Delta-driven surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, the world watched the closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. One of the most significant health stories to come out of the Olympics — at least for audiences watching in the U.S. — was how the athletes advanced the public discourse on mental health. 2016 Olympic medalist Laurie Hernandez played a prominent role in that important conversation, and we are thrilled to announce that she will speak on mental health awareness at our upcoming 2021 National Health Research Forum ! Also joining us are key federal officials, including Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI), White House...