Eyecelerator @ AAO 2024

Registration and breakfast

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Welcome and Overview of Eyecelerator @ AAO 2024​

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• Stephen D. McLeod, MD, CEO, American Academy of Ophthalmology 

• Allen C. Ho, MD, Retina Program Director

• Gil Kliman, MD, Program Director
   

An overview of financial and commercial aspects of ophthalmic innovation: are these good times or bad times? 

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​Panel: 

• Kristen Harmon Ingenito, CEO, Market Scope

• Sergio Rossi, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

• Andrew Gitkin, Senior Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, Leerink Partners LLC

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A candid discussion of successes and failures of innovation integration into clinical practice. 

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Introduction: Gil Kliman, MD

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Keynote: Barriers to Adoption of Technology in the Retina Space

                Reginald Sanders, MD

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Moderator: Reginald Sanders, MD

Panel: 

• David Eichenbaum, MD, Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida

• J. Michael Jumper, MD, West Coast Retina

• Cathleen M. McCabe, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Eye Health America 

• Erin Powers, Erin Powers, Vice President, US Sales & Marketing for Surgical Vision, Johnson & Johnson

• Lejla Vajzovic, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Duke University

• Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, Retinal Consultants of Texas

Networking Break 
 

True innovation is often a long journey, requiring persistence and dedication. How do you maintain focus and drive toward achieving your ultimate vision?

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Moderators: 

• Robert L. Avery, MD and Allen C. Ho, MD

• Fireside chat with Leonard S. Schleifer, MD, PhD and George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD

Presentation of  the Eyecelerator Innovation Award presented to Dr. Schleifer and Dr. Yancopoulos.

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​Panel: 

• Pravin Dugel, MD, Executive Chair, President, and CEO, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.

• Cedric Francois, MD, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO, Apellis Pharmaceuticals 

• David Guyer, MD, CEO, EyeBio

• Leonard S. Schleifer, MD, President and CEO, Regeneron

• Dan Schwartz, MD, Director, Retina Division, SF VA Medical Center

• George D. Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron

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Many factors can slow or block innovation. FDA, reimbursement, and practice dynamics all can impede advancement to the marketplace. Patent wars are beginning to stifle innovation as companies are spending more money on legal fees than R&D. Is incremental innovation becoming more of the norm due to increasing barriers to disruptive innovation?

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Moderators: Nathan M. Radcliffe, MD and Oluwatosin U. Smith, MD 

Panel: 

• Reay H. Brown, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Sight Sciences

• Gus DeMoraes, MD, PhD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, ORA 

• Kate Hunt, Chief Commercial Officer Nova Eye Medical

• Rajesh Rajpal, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Vision, Johnson & Johnson

• Vanessa Vera, MD, Medical Director, Abbvie

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The Shark Tank-style competition features pitches from three early-stage ophthalmology innovators, with judges and the audience deciding who will take home cash prizes worth $45,000.

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Moderators: Vance Thompson, MD, and John Berdahl, MD​

​​Judges: ​

• Anne Fung, MD

• Adrienne Graves, PhD

• Robert Warner

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Enjoy a bite to eat with your colleagues.
 

Thirty-nine companies present innovative new treatments, products, and services. Three breakout rooms will operate simultaneously for each segment. Links for showcase schedules will be posted shortly:

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Anterior Segment - Room 353c

Glaucoma & Digital -  Room 451b

Retina - Room 450a

Networking Break 

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This panel will discuss the intricacies of the regulatory process with a focus on accelerated approvals, strategies for securing approvals, and the development of new endpoints, including surrogate endpoints, and functional vision assessments. 

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Moderators: Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, and Arsham Sheybani, MD

Panel:

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• Jeannette Bankes, SVP, Group President, Global Franchises Surgical & Vision Care, Alcon

• William Boyd, MD, Deputy Division Director, Division of Ophthalmology, FDA

• Malvina Eydelman, MD, Director of The Office Of Ophthalmic, Anesthesia, Respiratory, ENT And Dental Devices, FDA

• Cherie Fathy, MD, Medical Officer, FDA 

• Keeley Puls-Boever, Executive Director, True North

The program committee wraps the day with the People's Choice recognition of best presenting company by segment.

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• Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD, Program Co-Chair

• Robert L. Avery, MD, Program Co-Chair

• Allen C. Ho, MD, Retina Program Director

• Gil Kliman, MD, Program Director

• Arsham Sheybani, MD, Program Co-Chair

Enjoy refreshments and connect!

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