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Simon J. Clark

@prof-clark.bsky.social

86 followers 30 following 230 posts

Helmut Ecker Endowed Professor of AMD & Co-Founder - Complement Therapeutics. Interested in ocular immunology and health. A British Biochemist in Europe 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 #ExtracellularMatrix #complement #ophthalmology https://tinyurl.com/Clark-lab

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Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Dec 26

Right. Let’s try this social media malarkey once more, shall we?

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 2d

Transferrin supplementation restores iron balance, prevents ferroptosis, and protects retinal cells, implying a novel therapeutic path for dry AMD.
#AMD #Retina #Ophthalmology #Ferroptosis #Transferrin #IronMetabolism #Neuroprotection #CellDeathDisease buff.ly/xt4Anvk

Transferrin is a drug candidate for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - PubMed

Dysregulation of iron homeostasis plays a crucial role in retinal diseases, contributing to oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis, key processes that drive the degeneration of the retinal…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 7d

NIH commits $87M to a new Organoid Center—accelerating the shift from animal testing to human-tissue models that could transform drug discovery. #Organoids #DrugDiscovery #Biotech #Innovation #AlternativesToAnimalTesting #TranslationalResearch

NIH earmarks $87M for new organoid center as pivot away from animal testing continues

The National Institutes of Health is continuing its mission to reduce the use of animals in drug testing by awarding $87 million in contracts to launch the Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) Cent |…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 8d

MACUSTAR study links structural biomarkers in intermediate AMD (RPD, cRORA) to pathway-specific polygenic risk scores—advancing precision risk stratification & trial design. #AMD #Ophthalmology #Genetics #PolygenicRisk #PrecisionMedicine #VisionResearch buff.ly/SyjrWEg

Associations Between Structural Phenotype and Polygenic Risk Scores in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration - A MACUSTAR Report - PubMed

Our findings reveal subgroups in iAMD based on genotype-phenotype associations which can help identifying patients at high risk for iAMD and establish new endpoints for clinical trials in iAMD.

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 9d

New study reveals a once “uncertain” CFH variant (p.Pro440Ser) is pathogenic in familial cuticular drusen—linking genetics, complement dysregulation & early macular disease. #Ophthalmology #Genetics #AMD #PrecisionMedicine #RareDisease #VisionResearch buff.ly/wnHCeCI

Evidence for the Pathogenicity of a CFH Variant in a Multigenerational Family with Cuticular Drusen - PubMed

<span><i>Background and Objectives:</i> Cuticular drusen are a rare form of early-onset drusen maculopathy, which falls within the spectrum of age-related macular degeneration. Previous research…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 10d

New study shows #HTRA1 directly disrupts toxic #Tau fibril seeding: a breakthrough in understanding #Alzheimers and opening doors to novel #Neurodegeneration therapies. Understanding HTRA1 biochemistry may unlock what its doing in AMD too. buff.ly/KKyCtNi

The serine protease HTRA1 targets Tau fibrils and provides a proteolytic barrier against pathogenic protein conformations - PubMed

Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism, and other neurodegenerative diseases are classified as protein folding diseases because they share amyloid fibrils…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 14d

Zinc isn’t just a supplement: it’s a master regulator of retinal health, reshaping our understanding of #AMD, #OxidativeStress & the #GutEyeAxis. #Ophthalmology #Retina #EyeHealth #VisionScience
buff.ly/Fvi4Q0H

Zinc in eye health, retinal biology and disease - PubMed

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that plays a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, including immune response, wound healing, and protein synthesis. Regarding eye health, zinc is particularly…

Reposted by Simon J. Clark

Institute for Ophthalmic Research in Tübingen @eye-tuebingen.bsky.social · 21d

Congrats to @prof-clark.bsky.social for the 2025 #Svar Complement Excellence Award at ICW Brisbane ! This Award is an annual honor for outstanding international contributions to complement science. 💪👏
@unituebingen.bsky.social @tueneurocampus.bsky.social

www.eye-tuebingen.de?tx_news_pi1%...

Prof. Simon J. Clark wins the 2025 Svar Complement Excellence Award at ICW Brisbane

This award highlights Simon’s outstanding contributions to complement research

www.eye-tuebingen.de

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 22d

Pleased to share that I will be talking at this year's Complement Based Drug Development Summit 1st-3rd Dec, in Boston US. Join us for the latest developments and future visions for complement therapeutics! buff.ly/RqA9bfm

#complement #drugdevelopment #innovation

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 23d

First-ever use of Adaptive Optics Transscleral Flood Illumination (AO-TFI) reveals 4 distinct retinal phenotypes in AMD, opening new paths for earlier detection and precision monitoring.
#AMD #Ophthalmology #AdaptiveOptics #Retina #MedicalImaging buff.ly/FrxgHDX

High-Resolution Adaptive Optics Transscleral Flood Illumination Imaging Allows Phenotyping of Age-Related Macular Degeneration - PubMed

Adaptive optics transscleral flood illumination (AO-TFI) enables in vivo imaging of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) at near-cellular resolution. In this study, we evaluated its potential as a…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 24d

Thank You!

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 24d

It’s a huge honor to receive one of this years SVAR Complement Excellence Award 2025! Thank you so much for this recognition of our work studying ECM-driven immunity!
@eye-tuebingen.bsky.social #ICW2025 #AMD #ophthalmology #complement

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 27d

This doesn't look good - I remember when Merck committed to a +£1Billion investment in the UK was touted as a Brexit win.

Merck executes its own Brexit, moving all R&D operations out of UK

Merck executes its own Brexit, moving all R&D operations out of UK

Less than two years after breaking ground on a ballyhooed 1 billion pound sterling ($1.31 billion) R&D center and future U.K. headquarters in London, Merck & Co. | Less than two years after breaking…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 28d

AI eye scans in GP clinics hit 93% accuracy detecting diabetic retinopathy—real-world proof that accessible, instant screening can transform early detection and patient care. buff.ly/kilZWTi
#AI #DigitalHealth #DiabeticRetinopathy #HealthTech #Early

Effectiveness of artificial intelligence-based diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care and endocrinology settings in Australia: a pragmatic trial

Purpose To investigate the diagnostic accuracy, feasibility and end-user experiences of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based, automated diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening model in real-world,…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · 29d

Striking shifts in FH N-glycans appear in HUS patients without altering core function, raising big questions about whether AMD risk variants might also shape complement glycosylation. #AMD #complement #glycans #glycobiology #risk buff.ly/mPYgbVB

Glycoproteomics analysis of complement factor H and its complement-regulatory function during Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome - PubMed

Hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by an invasive <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> infection (SP-HUS) is a rare and severe disease that primarily affects children under two years of age. The…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 9

New real-world data show avacincaptad pegol (Izervay) is safe in GA, with no inflammation or endophthalmitis and only ~6% annual CNV risk—reassuring results beyond clinical trials.

#GeographicAtrophy #AvacincaptadPegol #Ophthalmology #RealWorldEvidence #Innovation buff.ly/mSnVtjg

Real-World Experience with Intravitreal Pegcetacoplan for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration - PubMed

Eyes treated with pegcetacoplan after 1 year had a 37% reduction in GA growth rate compared with their prior annual growth rate. Pegcetacoplan slowed the growth for foveal and non-foveal GA at a…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 8

Come an contribute to groundbreaking research on retinal energy and information processing as part of this French-German collaborative initiative.

#PhD #jobs #ophthalmology #training #metabolism #biochemistry

PhD position (f/m/d) limits2vision international research training network

The new limits2vision research training network will educate the next generation of European vision researchers. PhD student positions will be hosted in the Institute for Ophthalmic Research (IOR) at…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 8

Applications are now open at the Institute for Ophthalmic Research (IOR) at the University of Tübingen and the Institut de la Vision (IDV) of Sorbonne Université in Paris - buff.ly/g1tbsWy

PhD position (f/m/d) limits2vision international research training network

The new limits2vision research training network will educate the next generation of European vision researchers. PhD student positions will be hosted in the Institute for Ophthalmic Research (IOR) at…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 8

🚨 PhD Positions Alert!🚨

Want to join a dynamic initiative between Europe's two leading centres of Ophthalmology? Then apply for a PhD opportunity as part of our Limits2Vision research programme - buff.ly/Ewv0g2k

limits2vision – International Research Training Group

We are excited to announce that up to 20 PhD student positions (funded for up to 3.5 years) will be available in Tübingen and Paris, starting on January 1, 2026.

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 5

New imaging shows hyporeflective clumps in AMD eyes move at microglia-like speeds, unveiling a dynamic biomarker that could transform how we track disease progression.
#AMD #Ophthalmology #AdaptiveOptics #Biomarkers #VisionScience buff.ly/4uKVDsE

Using adaptive optics to assess hyporeflective clump speed and size in age-related macular degeneration in the PINNACLE Study. (PINNACLE Study Report 6) - PubMed

AOO can detect HRC movement in AMD in images captured a mean of 105.5 min apart. HRC size and movement speed are consistent with microglial cells, but may also represent RPE cells. HRCs appear larger…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 4

For the first time in vivo, researchers show that C-reactive protein dissociation into monomeric CRP drives inflammation and choroidal neovascularization in AMD—revealing a novel therapeutic target. #AMD #CRP #VisionResearch #Inflammation #Ophthalmology buff.ly/NqCkRkX

C-reactive protein dissociation drives choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration - PubMed

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and inflammation play an important role in retinal disease development and the acute phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to contribute to…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 3

New research shows that HTRA1-driven proteolysis directly induces retinal degeneration in AMD, uncovering RBP3 as a novel substrate and potential therapeutic target. #AMD #HTRA1 #VisionResearch #TherapeuticTargets #Ophthalmology buff.ly/D9LsDVO

HTRA1-dependent proteolysis induces age-related retinal degeneration and exacerbates choroidal neovascularization - PubMed

Polymorphisms in the ARMS2/HTRA1 locus on chromosome 10 enhance the risk of geographic atrophy (GA) and macular neovascularization (MNV), the advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Sep 2

🌍 Discover how mapping sialoglycoconjugates in the human retina opens new doors for ocular disease therapies buff.ly/YPEg5kj

#Ophthalmology #RetinaResearch #AMD #Biomarkers #TherapeuticInnovation #FutureOfMedicine

Sialoglycoconjugate Profiling of Human Choroid, Retinal Pigment Epithelium, and Basal Laminar Deposits - PubMed

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of central vision loss in the elderly. Early hallmarks of the disease include basal laminar deposit beneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)…

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Aug 14

👁️ First patients will receive Encelto in June 2025.
This is a watershed moment in retinal medicine—and proof that rare diseases can be tackled with innovation, persistence, and science.

#FutureOfMedicine #Ophthalmology #HealthTech #CellTherapy

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Aug 14

🧠 What makes Encelto different?

▪️ Uses genetically engineered cells to release CNTF (a neuroprotective protein)
▪️ Shown in trials to slow vision loss by up to 55%
▪️ Still active 14.5 years after implantation (!)

#Biotech #VisionCare #FDAApproval

Simon J. Clark @prof-clark.bsky.social · Aug 14

🚨 BREAKTHROUGH for vision loss: The FDA just approved Encelto, the first-ever treatment for Macular Telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) - a living implant that protects vision from inside the eye. #Encelto #MacTel #MedTech buff.ly/9Le7LSv

ENCELTO Implant Slows Vision Loss in MacTel

Phase III trials confirm ENCELTO’s neuroprotective implant slows vision loss in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel).