#United States #Columbia #Chief Scientific Officer #Foundation Fighting Blindness #Amy Laster

Foundation Fighting Blindness Announces Dr. Amy Laster as Chief Scientific Officer

The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) has made significant strides in the fight against blinding diseases with the appointment of Dr. Amy Laster as its new Chief Scientific Officer, effective March 1, 2025. This transition comes after a successful period as the interim leader starting in September 2024. With nearly 20 years of expertise in vision and neuroscience research, Dr. Laster is uniquely positioned to steer FFB's scientific strategy forward.

Her interim tenure was marked by the effective implementation of the Foundation's new five-year scientific strategic plan, which aims to align research initiatives with long-term objectives to expedite the development of effective treatments and cures for a range of blinding conditions. Having joined FFB over 16 years ago, Dr. Laster has been pivotal in advancing scientific understanding and funding essential programs that convert innovative ideas into potential therapies for hereditary eye diseases.

According to Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Dr. Laster's profound leadership and skill set have been instrumental in the organization’s many scientific advancements. He emphasized that her efforts have not only propelled the five-year strategic plan but have also strengthened collaborative efforts with major partners in the field.

In her new position, Dr. Laster will be responsible for overseeing more than 100 research initiatives worldwide. Under her guidance, the Foundation will maintain its status as a global leader focusing on the research for treatments targeting inherited retinal diseases and dry age-related macular degeneration.

During her acceptance of the role, Dr. Laster articulated her commitment to advancing the Foundation's mission as her career's primary goal. She expressed her honor to officially take on this leadership position and underscored her eagerness to work closely with not only the executive team and board members but also the scientific advisory board, various research partners, industry allies, and devoted donors to foster innovation and extend the Foundation's impact in combating blinding diseases.

Dr. Laster's previous experience encompasses significant research focused on neuroregeneration following acute injuries, as well as the underlying causes of neurological monogenic diseases. Before her tenure at FFB, she was a faculty member in the biology department at Stevenson University. With a solid academic background, Dr. Laster completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience. She obtained her BS in Natural Science from Spelman College and earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from Purdue University. Currently, Dr. Laster is also active on the executive committee of the Health Research Alliance Board of Directors and the ClinGen Retina Ocular Clinical Domain Working Group.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness

Founded in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is recognized as the leading private entity funding research into retinal degenerative diseases. To date, they have raised an impressive $954 million to support their mission of accelerating research aimed at preventing, treating, and eventually curing blindness resulting from various blinding retinal conditions including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome. For additional information, visit FightingBlindness.org.