Allergan donation to ARVO will establish education series

The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) has received a $500,000 donation from the Allergan Foundation to sponsor a clinical trials course program, which will launch a new education series. AFER is a supporting organization of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

This education series will provide ocular researchers with state-of-the-art educational opportunities, including Web-based training. The clinical trials course program will include a 1-day course, a 3-day summer course, and online course modules. The first 1-day course is being held at the 2007 ARVO annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The course will feature internationally renowned trialists discussing key elements in the design, construct, and execution of a clinical trial.

Three additional 1-day courses in the United States and abroad are planned for 2008 as well as a 3-day summer course that will serve as the fundamental structure for developing more in-depth modules. The modules will be available online and will supplement the basic course in subsequent years. Participants can sign up for a series of modules relating to aspects of clinical trial issues and methodologies, with opportunities to obtain hands-on experience through examples.

"The Allergan Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives that will aid in improving patient care and quality of life," said Scott Whitcup, MD, Allergan Foundation board member and Allergan's executive vice president, research and development. "The clinical trials course for researchers supports this mission, and we are proud to support the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research in its development of this educational program."

"We are delighted by, and most appreciative of, the wonderful gift from the Allergan Foundation to establish a clinical trials course program," said John E. Dowling, PhD, AFER board of trustees chairman. "We see this program as an important step for bringing more rapidly new vision and ophthalmic research findings to the clinic and patient."