What makes this group different is the structure of their lab. It is a team of Ph.D.s and M.D.s working together to find a way to cure or prevent blindness caused by diabetes. We have different folks from different backgrounds working on the same problem. We have clearly made more significant progress working together than we did separately. It is the leading cause of blindness in people ages 20 to 70.
Diabetes also can lead to kidney and heart disease and stroke.
Diabetic retinopathy is one the major complications from this disease and is the leading cause of blindness for working age adults. Currently there are no ways to prevent the onset of this complication of diabetes. About 90 percent of all diabetics will develop some form of retinopathy. Researchers have found that during diabetes subtle changes occur in the retina much earlier than previously thought. We know the changes occur almost immediately once someone has diabetes.