REUTLINGEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Retina Implant, AG, a leading developer of electronic implants to treat blindness, today announced that its founding chairman, Professor Eberhart Zrenner has been formally recognised by the 16^th General Assembly of Retina International for his outstanding contribution to the work of the global retinal degenerative disease movement along with Professor Hollyfield, Chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Professor Chader, Secretary of the Doheny Eye Institute.

Professor Zrenner, Director of the Institute for Ophthalmic Research and Head of the Centre for Ophthalmology at Tuebingen University, Germany, received the certificate from Christina Fasser, President of the Retina International General Assembly at their 16^th annual meeting in Stresa, Italy last week.

Ms Fasser says, “Professor Zrenner’s outstanding commitment and enthusiasm has been largely instrumental in degenerative disease, resulting in the current coordinated energetic and focused worldwide research effort to find treatments for retinal degenerative diseases (RD). The Professor is serving as our Chair of the Retina International Scientific and Medical Advisory Board and is spearheading the establishment of international and European research networks in RD. His pioneering work will bring hope to a great number of people with these conditions.

“On behalf of all those throughout the world who live with a Retinal Degenerative Disease and their families, we formally express our sincere thanks to Professor Zrenner for his outstanding contribution to our cause over the years. His passion and commitment have been a source of inspiration to us and we gratefully thank him for his role in bringing us closer to a cure.”

Professor Zrenner and his team have been searching for cures for hereditary RD since 1989. As well as investigating stem-cell, biological and pharmacological solutions, he started the development of electronic implants in 1995. Retina Implant AG, founded by Professor Zrenner and two colleagues in 2003, has developed an intraocular chip able to restore unprecedented levels of vision to blind patients suffering with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) through the implantation of a sub-retinal implant. Its first clinical trial began in Germany in 2005 and involved 11 patients, the results of which far exceeded the company’s initial expectations. Some patients were able to see objects and shapes clearly enough to read large letters and recognise words.

Following the first trial’s success, Retina Implant is currently recruiting patients for its next trial to take place in the UK which will be led by Professor Robert MacLaren, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and a consultant retinal surgeon at the Oxford Eye Hospital and includes Mr. Tim Jackson, a consultant retinal surgeon at King’s College Hospital in London with additional sites in Germany, Italy and Hungary. Successful candidates for the trial will only be accepted if they have completely lost their vision due to RP.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of inherited eye diseases affecting the retina which cause the breakdown of photoreceptor cells, causing progressive vision loss.

About Retina Implant, AG
Retina Implant AG is the leading developer of subretinal implants for partially sighted and blind patients. Retina Implant AG was founded by Prof. Eberhart Zrenner and his colleagues in 2003 with the goal of developing the first fully functioning electronic retinal prosthesis to restore vision to the blind. Retina Implant began implanting in human patients in 2005 and has implanted 11 patients to-date. To learn more visit http://www.retina-implant.de/.