Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
DRCR Retina Network - Project Summary The DRCR Retina Network is a consortium dedicated to facilitating multicenter clinical studies of diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal diseases. The Network’s mission is to conduct high quality, collaborative clinical research that improves vision and quality of life for people with retinal diseases. The Network operates through a highly collaborative framework comprised of a Coordinating Center, two Network Chairs, over 100 clinical sites, and other central resource groups such as image reading centers. This standing infrastructure, along with the substantial clinical and scientific expertise of its investigators, allows the Network to be highly efficient and effective in the design, implementation, and reporting of large-scale, ophthalmic clinical studies of major public health priority. In the United States, it is estimated that over 20 million people have retinal pathology from DR, AMD, retinal vein occlusion, and other retinal disease. The US economic burden from retinal disorders totals as much as $20 billion per year. The Network is uniquely prepared to make impactful contributions to the fight against vision loss from retinal diseases. Since its inception in 2002, the Network has successfully made numerous and substantial contributions to the improvement of visual outcomes in diabetic patients. Network studies have addressed novel therapies, cost effectiveness, patient quality of life, novel methods of retinal imaging and multiple aspects of visual function with major direct impact on clinical care guidelines and practices worldwide. The uniqueness of the Network and its efficiencies of scale allow the performance of protocols using money from the NIH, industry, and foundations. These protocols often involve trials that would not be done by industry and would not be feasible with solely NIH funding. Such protocols have included comparative effectiveness studies, trials supportive of new indications for approved drugs, and studies testing new therapies. The major goals of the Network over the next 5 year period include 1) conducting studies in retinal disease of high public health importance by completing the 7 ongoing studies and continuing to develop and implement protocols with scientific rigor and integrity, 2) maintaining a transparent and open collaborative Network that mentors and encourages diverse clinical reserachers and 3) growing collaborations with external research groups, foundations and industry. Given its previous accomplishments, robust organization, high visibility community and strong enthusiasm of its investigators and personnel, the Network is poised for success in designing and implementing clinical studies over the next five-year period that will substantially and positively impact our ability to preserve and improve vision in patients with retinal disease in the US and across the globe.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).