Clinical Research Directory

Restoration of Central Vision With PRIMA in Patients With Photoreceptor Degeneration

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PRIMA Products in participants with inherited retinal degeneration affecting the macula (including but not limited to Stargardt disease, and Retinitis Pigmentosa). Eligible participants will be implanted with the PRIMA Stim implant. The participants will be assessed with various visual function and functional vision tests at defined timepoints throughout the clinical investigation with the PRIMA Products. The purpose of this study is to gather enough clinical data to support the clinical evaluation required for the continuous development to improve the PRIMA Products.

Study to Evaluate Ultevursen in Subjects With Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Due to Mutations in Exon 13 of the USH2A Gene

The purpose of this Phase 2b study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ultevursen administered via intravitreal injection (IVT) in subjects with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene. This is a multicenter Double-masked, Randomized, Sham-controlled study which will enroll 81 subjects.

Prospective, Randomized, Sham-controlled, Dose-finding I/II Trial of Safety and Efficacy of Modified Optogenetic Gene Therapy (ZM-02 Injection)

This is a Phase 1/2, multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled, dose-escalation study evaluating ZM-02 in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Subtenon Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in Inherited and Degenerative Retinal Diseases

his prospective, comparative pilot study investigates the safety and functional outcomes of subtenon autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Extensive Macular Atrophy with Pseudodrusen-like Appearance (EMAP). Participants will receive three subtenon injections of autologous platelet-rich plasma (1.5 mL per injection) administered at two-month intervals (M0, M2, M4). The primary objective is to assess functional changes over a 6-month period, with a focus on visual field preservation, evaluated by the Field Preservation Deviation Index (FPDI) and Mean Deviation (MD), as well as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR). Secondary outcomes include changes in 30-Hz flicker electroretinography (ERG) amplitude, structural retinal parameters on optical coherence tomography (OCT)-including central macular thickness and ellipsoid zone length-and ocular safety outcomes, such as intraocular pressure, local tolerability, and the occurrence of inflammatory or adverse events related to subtenon PRP administration.

Intravitreal Adalimumab in Inherited and Degenerative Retinal Diseases

This prospective, comparative pilot study investigates the safety and functional outcomes of intravitreal adalimumab (ADA) in patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Extensive Macular Atrophy with Pseudodrusen-like Appearance (EMAP). Participants will receive three intravitreal injections of adalimumab (2 mg/0.05 mL) at two-month intervals (M0, M2, M4). The primary objective is to assess functional changes after 6 months, focusing on visual-field preservation (Field Preservation Deviation Index - FPDI, Mean Deviation - MD) and best-corrected visual acuity (LogMAR). Secondary outcomes include alterations in 30-Hz flicker ERG amplitude, OCT parameters (central macular thickness and ellipsoid zone length), and ocular safety measures such as intraocular pressure and inflammatory response.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Post-Diagnostic Announcement Protocol at the CRMR RefeRet, Quinze-Vingts Hospital

This study explores whether adding early nurse-led and psychological support after the diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) can improve patient experience and emotional well-being. RP is a rare, progressive eye disease often diagnosed after a long and difficult process, and receiving the diagnosis can be emotionally distressing. Eighty newly diagnosed adults will be randomly assigned to either usual care or an enhanced pathway that includes early follow-up with a nurse, structured emotional monitoring, and a psychologist visit at six months. The study aims to determine if this structured support improves patient satisfaction and reduces anxiety and depression compared with standard care.

Brain Stimulation Effects on Orientation and Mobility Skills in Adults With Vision Impairment

This pilot clinical trial evaluates whether non-invasive brain stimulation improves the orientation and mobility (O\&M) skills of individuals with constricted visual fields in both eyes. The study is composed of three visits. The first visit is meant to confirm eligibility by performing a few clinical tests. Eligible participants will then complete two additional visits, one in which the participants receive active stimulation, and one in which the participants receive placebo (sham) stimulation. Stimulation will be administered in a randomized, double-blind order. To evaluate improvement, various measures of O\&M performance will be assessed on a standardized obstacle course featuring static natural and artificial obstacles at defined intervals after the intervention. The investigators hypothesize that the application of brain stimulation to region of the brain responsible for visual processing will improve the orientation and mobility skills of individuals with binocular constricted visual fields immediately following stimulation, and the results will inform the design of a future, larger-scale study.

UGX202 Injection in Patients With Advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa

The primary objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a single intravitreal injection of the gene therapy drug UGX202 in patients with advanced RP. The secondary objective is, to assess the preliminary efficacy of a single intravitreal injection of the gene therapy drug UGX202 in treating patients with advanced RP.

Wide Field OCTA in Ocular Diseases

The main retinal diseases, whether or not associated with specific mutations genetic, cause progressive degeneration of vascular retinal structures and not vascular, resulting in decreased visual function. Often, such diseases affect the noblest part of the retina, called macula. Many retinal diseases can be complicated by choroidal neovascularization which causes frequent bleeding and fluid leakage that accumulates in the subretinal and intraretinal spaces. Although the investigators know many details of each disease affecting the retina, very often the correct diagnostic framework can be complicated, given the presence of morphological elements common to the different pathologies. Similarly, predicting the effect of treatment and the patient's outcome is a constant challenge for the ophthalmologists. Most of the current research has been focused on the assessment of vascular alterations localized in the macula. However, growing evidence highlight the importance of peripheral vascular changes on the outcome of retinal diseases. These changes can be detected only be wide field OCT devices. On the other hand, ocular inflammation and hyperemia represent major assessments in anterior segment disorders, such as dry eye disease. The current grading systems of ocular inflammation, redness and hyperemia are characterized by several limitations, thus making these evaluations still mainly confined to the subjective assessment performed by the ophthalmologist. However, the new generation OCT devices may include also an anterior segment module which can reconstruct anterior segment vessels, non-invasively, using the same technology described for retinal diseases. The main goal of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of a new generation wide field OCTA device in ocular diseases, which has recently received CE marking. In particular, the investigators will evaluate this new generation device both in retinal and anterior segments diseases, testing for common points and differences with the standard of care non-invasive diagnostic devices. Secondary outcomes include the assessment of the correlation between the patient's visual function (visual acuity) and morphological changes (standard of care imaging assessment) highlighted by the wide field OCT device, with particular attention to microstructural differences between major ocular diseases and the possible development of non-invasive biomarkers, useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of such pathologies.

A Study to Investigate the Safety of OpCT-001 in Adults Who Have Primary Photoreceptor Disease (CLARICO)

Study OpCT-001-101 is a Phase 1/2a first-in-human, multisite, 2-part interventional study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and the effect on clinical outcomes of OpCT-001 in up to approximately 54 adults with primary photoreceptor (PR) disease. Phase 1 will focus on safety and features a dose-escalation design. Phase 2 is designed to gather additional safety data and assess the effect of OpCT-001 on measures of visual function, functional vision, and anatomic measures of engraftment in different clinical subgroups.

24-Month Trial of NPI-001 for the Preservation of Photoreceptors in Retinitis Pigmentosa Associated With Usher Syndrome

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if NPI-001 works to prevent progression of retinitis pigmentosa in adults diagnosed with Usher syndrome. It will also provide information about the safety of NPI-001. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does NPI-001 slow down the loss of photoreceptors? What medical problems do participants have when taking NPI-001? Researchers will compare NPI-001 to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if NPI-001 works to preserve vision. Participants will: Take NPI-001 or a placebo twice a day, every day for 24 months Visit the clinic 9 times for checkups and tests

Inherited Retinal Diseases: Natural History and Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) are a heterogeneous group of genetically based degenerative retinal disorders, representing a major cause of visual impairment and blindness in working-age adults. Despite the approval of the first gene therapy for RPE65-related IRD (voretigene neparvovec) in 2017, most IRDs remain untreatable, though many gene therapies are in development. Effective trial design and therapy development require a deep understanding of disease natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations. Over 270 IRD-associated genes are known (e.g., ABCA4, USH2A, RPGR, PRPH2, BEST1), each linked to distinct phenotypes and clinical progression. This retrospective study analyzes clinical, functional, and imaging data (Optical Coherence Tomography, Fundus Autofluorescence, Microperimetry) from a large, genetically characterized IRD cohort at the IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele up to December 31, 2025. The aims are to describe natural history, define genotype-phenotype relationships, and identify structural and functional outcome measures useful for future clinical trial endpoints, supporting personalized prognosis and trial design.

Impact of Capsular Tension Ring on Intraocular Lens Position in Retinitis Pigmentosa Cataract Patients

This is a self-controlled randomized clinical trial to investigate the effect of capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation on intraocular lens (IOL) position in cataract patients with retinitis pigmentosa(RP). Each patient will receive CTR implantation in one eye, with the fellow eye serving as control. Postoperative outcomes, including visual acuity, IOL position, and postoperative complications will be compared between eyes.

Subthreshold Micropulse Laser Therapy (SML) in Retinitis Pigmentosa

Introduction Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common form of genetic retinal degenerative disease. The disease is progressive and leads to blindness and permanent disability within a few years of diagnosis. The etiology of RP is multifactorial. It combines genetic (multiple inheritance patterns) and environmental factors, which makes it difficult to develop effective causal therapy. Many potential methods of RP treatment have been described so far, but the lack of unequivocal evidence of the therapeutic effectiveness of these methods implies a lack of RP therapy standards. Few analyzes have shown that the use of a red subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) with a wavelength of 810 nm causes a neurostimulatory effect on the retina. The subsequent introduction of a yellow laser with a wavelength of 577 nm, dedicated to edema and ischemic retinal diseases, re-initiated a series of questions about the effectiveness of both therapies and the treatment protocols used. This fact emphasizes the need for further verification and optimization of SML treatment regimens in Poland, which has a chance to become a new, widely available, non-invasive standard of treatment independent of the genetic pattern. The aim of the project The main goal of the experiment is to verify the effectiveness of SML and determine the optimal treatment protocol for SML based on a detailed analysis of molecular changes of selected pro-inflammatory, neurotrophic and angiogenic factors (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL- 6 IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-17A, CXCL8 / IL-8, MCP-1 / CCL2, MIP-1α / CCL3, MIP-1β / CCL4, IL-8 / CXCL8, CCL5 / RANTES, IP-10 / CXCL10, GM-CSF, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-13, BMP-4, BMP-7, BMP - 9, TIMP-1, t-PA, PAI-1, NGF, EGF, TNF-α, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, FGF, EGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, HGF, PDGF-AA, PDGF- AB / BB, VEGF, PAI-1, COL1A1, TSP-2, IFN-γ, N-cadherin, E-selection and P-selection) in tears and peripheral blood of patients with RP. Moreover, the project aims to personalize the assessed treatment regimens by determining the correlation between these changes and the genotype and dynamics of functional changes of the retina in the eyes from the RP subjected to single stimulation with yellow and red SML. Materials and methods The study group will consist of 60 adult patients with retinitis pigmentosa diagnosed on the basis of a characteristic clinical picture confirmed by genome analysis using the whole exome sequencing method and full-field electroretinoography (ERG). In randomized selection, one eye of each patient will be randomly assigned to be stimulated with red (30 eyes) or yellow (30 eyes) SML, and second eye will be assigned to the sham procedure. This will ensure a comprehensive comparative assessment of the effectiveness of both types of SML against each other and against a placebo. The tear film will be collected by wetting the Schirmer strips placed under the lower eyelid before SML (T0) and 28 days (T1), 3 months (T2) and 6 months (T3) after the laser stimulation. In addition, approximately 7.5 ml of peripheral venous blood will be collected at corresponding time points. The assessment of the dynamics of functional changes based on the measurements of the best corrected visual acuity for distance and near vision, contrast sensitivity, microperimetry, 10-2 and 30-2 static perimetry, electroretinogram stimulated with the pattern (PERG) and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) in both eyes will be carried out at the time points T0, T1-T3. In addition, during the T0-T3 visits, the morphology of the eyeball, i.e. examination of the anterior segment and fundus of the eye in a slit lamp, examination of optical coherence tomography of the macula and ultrasound of the eyeball will be assessed. The quality of life of the participants of the experiment will be assessed on the basis of the standardized NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire. The quality of life assessment will take place both before the implementation of the SML and during subsequent follow-up visits. Expected project benefits Conducting the proposed experiment will result in verification of the effectiveness of the retinal stimulation by the yellow SML in comparison to the red SML in the eyes with retinitis pigmentosa. In addition, conducting genome analysis and monitoring changes in the concentration of pro-inflammatory, neurotrophic and angiogenic factors in the tear film and peripheral blood in combination with a detailed assessment of the dynamics of functional changes in the eyes with RP after stimulation with an immunomodulatory stimulus SML will enable optimization and personalization of this treatment method in relation to the genetic profile of the patient with RP. The expected results may direct further research on the search for an effective therapy for patients with RP or constitute the basis for the introduction of the world's first standard of adjuvant treatment in this disease entity.

Evaluating a New Peptide Therapy for Retinal Diseases: AMD, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Dystrophies

Summary of the Study This clinical trial evaluates a novel peptide-based therapy for treating retinal dystrophies, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The therapy consists of peptides derived from fetal tissues, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and bioactive growth factors, administered sublingually for systemic absorption. Study Objectives: Primary Objectives: Assess safety and tolerability, and evaluate the therapy's effects on retinal function and structure. Secondary Objectives: Explore improvements in visual acuity, retinal thickness, vascular health, and disease biomarkers. Study Design: Type: Open-label, single-arm interventional study. Duration: 12 months. Participants: 150 adults, divided into three cohorts: Retinal dystrophies. AMD (dry and wet forms). DR (moderate NPDR and PDR). Intervention: A sublingual solution containing peptides and growth factors, taken 4 times daily. Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Safety (adverse events) and tolerability (treatment adherence). Secondary Outcomes: Functional: Visual acuity and field sensitivity improvements. Structural: Retinal thickness and vascular health. Biomarkers: Serum VEGF, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers. Study Procedures: Monthly follow-ups for safety monitoring, vision tests, retinal imaging (OCT, FA), and blood biomarker analysis. Comprehensive evaluations at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Significance: The study aims to provide an innovative, non-invasive treatment for debilitating retinal conditions, potentially improving vision and retinal health through systemic therapy.

Functional Assessments in Vision Impairment

The aim of the research project is to validate the use of a novel functional assessment tool designed to document how participants with a vision impairment complete activities of daily living in a real world environment.

Retinal Investigation Using Optos OCT Device

Retinal investigation using OCT with control and diseased eyes