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53 EW INTERNATIONAL December 2014 Contact information Alward: wallace-alward@uiowa.edu drugs that might treat the underly- ing molecular defect, not just the pressure problem." EW Editors' note: Dr. Alward has no financial interests related to this article. "This provided us the opportu- nity to develop new understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the disease, and hopefully better diagnostic and therapeutic tools," Dr. Alward said. Currently, pre-symptomatic molecular diagnosis, gene replace- ment therapy, stem cells, and small molecule therapy are being studied in glaucoma management. "We can already do pre-symp- tomatic diagnosis," he said. "We can tell [a mother] that her son has no more likelihood of getting glauco- ma than my son, but her daughter certainly will develop glaucoma, and we can target our resources in that way." However, Dr. Alward puts more weight on the development of small molecule therapy for glaucoma management, or development of drugs to treat a specific underlying molecular defect, in the hope that this will lead to treatments that are more effective, more specific, and longer lasting. "We can use the understanding of molecular genetic pathways in glaucoma in order to develop therapies," he said. The myocilin glaucoma gene story is one that travelled from an individual patient to treatments that might be used for generations to come. "We assumed, when we de- scribed this in 1997, that there would be a lot more important genes that would come along," Dr. Alward said. "But now, 17 years later, this is still the most important, and cer- tainly the most prevalent gene for glaucoma." To date, several genes in glauco- ma have already been identified. "The question is, so what? How does this gene help this man who came to us all those years ago? What can we do with this genetic knowl- edge?" asked Dr. Alward. "My hope is that because of this man's efforts, we have now devel- oped a drug that might help his children and grandchildren," said Dr. Alward. "I am optimistic that we are in a quest of developing designer drugs that will help specific forms of glaucoma, rather than treating all glaucomas like they are the same— 4TH ANNUAL The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit was created to facilitate meaningful interactions and business partnerships between physicians, entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives who are driving ophthalmic innovation. OIS addresses key issues – both hurdles and opportunities while showcasing the most promising private ophthalmic companies. WWW.OIS.NET � 5% 10% 30% 20% 35% Physicians Finance/Investment Industry/Corporate Executives Private Ophthalmic Companies Press/Media 2014 Attendee Demographics 4TH ANNUAL The Ophthalmology Innovation Summit was created to facilitate meaningful interactions and business partnerships between physicians, entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives who are driving ophthalmic innovation. OIS addresses key issues – both hurdles and opportunities while showcasing the most promising private ophthalmic companies. WWW.OIS.NET UNITING OVER 400 LEADERS in the Development of Ground-Breaking Ophthalmic Technologies SAN DIEGO, CA APRIL 16, 2015 HILTON SAN DIEGO BAYFRONT Physicians Finance/Investment Industry/Corporate Executives Private Ophthalmic Companies Press/Media 2014 Attendee Demographics � 10% 10% 30% 25% 25% UNITING OVER 400 LEADERS in the Development of Ground-Breaking Ophthalmic Technologies SAN DIEGO, CA APRIL 16, 2015