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The cover of the Winter 2025 edition of Look Forward, featuring two of our volunteers cutting a special 50th anniversary cake

Look Forward – Winter 2025 – Issue 188

This is the final edition of Look Forward this year and what a year it has been! We’ve had some very positive feedback about our Conferences and the Big Give Christmas Challenge is back - a great opportunity to double your donation at no extra cost to you! We’ve included a handy ‘What’s on’ article which outlines some of our plans for 2026. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and fulfilling New Year.

Eppendorf tubes in rack

Research round-up, spring 2023

Progress towards treatments for inherited retinal conditions continues to gather pace and there’s been lots going on in the last few months, with more and more approaches being explored. This round-up gives a flavour of the variety of developments, including plenty that are not specific to a particular genetic fault.

A close up of gloved hands holding an item in a research lab. The gloves are bright green!

Podcast: What is the UKIRDC and why does it exist?

With a significant proportion of inherited retinal conditions being caused by unidentified genetic faults, and many families unable to get clear results from genetic tests in clinic, the project set out to solve previously undiagnosable cases and discover more of the genes and mutations that are associated with sight loss.

Your donations make progress possible

Your generous support allows Retina UK to fund the work of leading scientists who are increasing understanding of inherited sight loss and moving us closer to treatments.

Genetic testing: an essential topic for discussion with the IRD community

As Luxturna reaches the clinic and other gene-specific therapies for inherited retinal disease get closer to the end of the development pipeline, it is becoming ever more important that affected families can access a genetic diagnosis, potentially opening up choices around treatment and clinical trial participation.

A DNA spiral with a piece removed being held by tweezers

Genetics and gene therapy

When we talk about gene therapy we are usually referring to use of a harmless virus, called a vector, to deliver a normal copy of a defective gene into the cells of the eye.

A magnifier illustration highlighting test tubes in a rack

Genetic testing

Genetic testing, usually via a blood sample, is used to try and identify which gene contains the fault that is causing an individual’s sight loss.