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Retina4Future - COST Action CA24105

Working Groups

Working Group 1

Tools for Retina Research and Clinics

Description

WG1 focuses on the evaluation, harmonisation, and sharing of experimental and clinical tools for retinal research, including preclinical models, biological samples, imaging, biomarkers, and AI-supported diagnostics.

Tasks

  • Develop standardized research and clinical protocols

  • Compile inventories of preclinical models, biomarkers, samples, and technologies

  • Define image annotation guidelines for AI applications

  • Create centralized repositories for retinal imaging and data

  • Identify gaps in available tools and models

Milestones

  • Guidelines for standardized protocols (D1.1)

  • Position paper on image annotation for AI (D1.2)

  • Technological platform and shared repositories (D1.3)

Leaders

  • WG1 Leader

    Hrvoje Bogunovic
    Medical University of Vienna
    Flag of Austria Austria
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1

  • WG1 Co-Leader

    Tomas Barta
    Masarykova univerzita
    Flag of Czech Republic Czech Republic
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1
View All WG1 Members

Working Group 2

New Therapeutic Approaches

Description

WG2 advances innovative therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases, covering drug discovery and repurposing, gene and RNA therapies, ocular delivery systems, and regenerative medicine.

Tasks

  • Identify druggable targets and repurposable compounds

  • Review and advance gene and RNA therapy approaches

  • Map and assess ocular drug and gene delivery systems

  • Identify bottlenecks in advanced and regenerative therapies

  • Foster interdisciplinary and SME collaborations

Milestones

  • Review on therapeutic targets and drug repurposing (D2.1)

  • State-of-the-art review on gene therapy (D2.2)

  • Guidelines on RNA therapy targets (D2.3)

  • Review on ocular drug delivery systems (D2.4)

  • Review on retinal regenerative medicine (D2.5)

Leaders

  • WG2 Leader

    António Francisco Ambrósio
    Universidade de Coimbra
    Flag of Portugal Portugal
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1, WG2, WG6

  • WG2 Co-Leader

    Alex Garanto
    Stichting Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum
    Flag of Netherlands Netherlands
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1, WG2, WG3, WG6
View All WG2 Members

Working Group 3

Translational Medicine and Clinical Research

Description

WG3 strengthens translational and clinical research by harmonising methodologies, improving clinical trial design, and promoting multicentre studies and clinically meaningful biomarkers.

Tasks

  • Harmonise preclinical and clinical study procedures

  • Define biomarkers and surrogate clinical endpoints

  • Create inventories of clinical samples and genetic data

  • Identify gaps and priorities for new clinical trials

  • Engage with regulators and HTA bodies

Milestones

  • Consensus review on preclinical and clinical study design (D3.1)

  • Position paper on retinal disease mutations and risk factors (D3.2)

  • Inventory of clinical samples (D3.3)

  • Position paper on underexplored retinal diseases (D3.4)

  • Consensus review on retinal phenotyping and diagnostics (D3.5)

Leaders

  • WG3 Leader

    Alastair David Bezzina
    Ministry for Health - Government of Malta
    Flag of Malta Malta
    Email Address
    WGs: WG3, WG5

  • WG3 Co-Leader

    Dijana Sontacchi
    County hospital Čakovec
    Flag of Croatia Croatia
    Email Address
    WGs: WG2
View All WG3 Members

Working Group 4

Economic Output

Description

WG4 focuses on translating research outputs into economic and societal impact, promoting innovation, technology transfer, and collaboration between academia and industry.

Tasks

  • Develop technology roadmaps for marketable solutions

  • Align technology maturity, IP strategy, and regulatory pathways

  • Promote YRI–SME collaboration and training

  • Attract additional SMEs to the network

  • Organise industry showcase events

Milestones

  • Consensus review on technology roadmaps (D4.1)

  • Periodic reports on economic exploitation of results (D4.2)

Leaders

  • WG4 Leader

    Tiago Ferreira
    Tenpoint Therapeutics GmbH
    Flag of Switzerland Switzerland
    Email Address
    WGs: WG2, WG3, WG4

  • WG4 Co-Leader

    Yevgeny Beiderman
    Holon Institute Of Technology
    Flag of Israel Israel
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1, WG2
View All WG4 Members

Working Group 5

Patient-Oriented Research

Description

WG5 ensures meaningful patient involvement throughout the research cycle, promoting patient-centred research, priority setting, and outcomes that reflect real patient needs.

Tasks

  • Involve patients in defining research priorities

  • Integrate patient perspectives into study design

  • Develop patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)

  • Promote visual and functional rehabilitation strategies

  • Support Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)

Milestones

  • Guidelines for patient-centred study design (D5.1)

  • Inventory of visual and functional rehabilitation services in Europe (D5.2)

Leaders

  • WG5 Leader

    Declan Meenagh
    Fighting Blindness
    Flag of Ireland Ireland
    Email Address
    WGs: WG5, WG6

  • WG5 Co-Leader

    Vanessa Ferreira
    Humanized Solutions, Lda
    Flag of Portugal Portugal
    Email Address
    WGs: WG5
View All WG5 Members

Working Group 6

Community Liaison and Dissemination

Description

WG6 coordinates communication, dissemination, and community engagement activities, ensuring visibility, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of the Retina4Future Action.

Tasks

  • Develop and maintain the Retina4Future website

  • Coordinate newsletters, social media, and dissemination materials

  • Organise webinars, public outreach events, and Open Days

  • Support future European project applications

  • Centralise dissemination outputs from all WGs

Milestones

  • Dissemination & Exploitation Plan (D6.1)

  • Retina4Future website and continuous updates (D6.2)

  • Quarterly newsletter (D6.3)

  • Thematic webinars and public outreach events (D6.4–D6.5)

Leaders

  • WG6 Leader

    Elena Milanesi
    Institutul National de Cercetare Dezvoltare in Domeniul Patologiei si Stiintelor Biomedicale
    Flag of Romania Romania
    Email Address
    WGs: WG3, WG6

  • WG6 Co-Leader

    Jana Jaksic
    Faculty Of Medicine, University Of Belgrade
    Flag of Serbia Serbia
    Email Address
    WGs: WG1, WG3
View All WG6 Members