European project aims to find new tests and treatments for AMD

A new European-wide project is aiming to develop tests and therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The Macustar project involves researchers from City, University of London, University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

The £14 million (€16m) project is being led by the University of Bonn in Germany and involves several other European universities, as well as medical technology and pharmaceutical companies.

Clinical tests and therapeutic options will be developed over the course of five years to help reduce the burden of AMD in Europe.

The project will carry out a series of tests to see if subtle changes in AMD can be detected over time. If this is acheived it is hoped that it will result in more efficient clinical trials and drug development.

The research will involve 700 AMD patients from 20 clinical sites across Europe.

Research at City, University of London started this month with around £260,000 (€350,000) being awarded to the university over the five years of the project.

Professor of statistics and vision research in the school of health sciences at City, University of London, David Crabb, and lecturer Dr Alison Binns will assess a series of tests of visual function with UCL and Moorfields. 

Professor Crabb explained: “The data from the observational study is going to be quite unique. Our research lab offers particular expertise making us an important named partner.

“We hope this project will develop methods to detect key changes in the disease process. In turn this will accelerate adoption of new therapies for AMD, and in the long term, directly benefit patients with this eye disease."