Our Impact

Understanding the Human Condition

The Human Eye Tissue Bank

We’ve created a human eye tissue bank to improve our understanding of the underlying processes leading to diabetic retinal disease (DRD) and its progression in humans. This valuable resource will accelerate research and help develop new ways to prevent and cure vision loss and blindness in people living with diabetes.

The Mary Tyler Moore Ocular Biorepository and Resource Center

The MTM-BRC, directed by Dr. Patrice Fort at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, focuses on collecting, characterizing, and sharing human retinal tissue samples. Through advanced OMIC analysis, researchers can examine these samples at the cellular and molecular levels, aiding in identifying and validating targets for DRD drug development. By collaborating with tissue banks collecting pancreas, kidney, and heart tissue from people with diabetes at the University of Florida and aggregating specimen availability and data on a common architecture platform, the MTM-BRC fosters improved research resource sharing and enhanced collaboration between academic and industry researchers, with the future potential of better understanding similarities and differences in the major complications of diabetes and thereby guiding drug development and improved patient care and outcomes.

Mission and Global Impact

The mission of the MTM-BRC is to delve into the human pathophysiology of DRD, discover new biomarkers, and spearhead the development of treatments to prevent and cure vision loss from diabetes. The use of human ocular tissues is vital for uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms of DRD, ultimately leading to innovative treatments. As the world’s first large-scale, diabetes-focused ocular biorepository and data-sharing resource, the MTM-BRC is poised to make a significant global impact in the fight against vision loss and blindness from diabetes

Clinical Research Program

Studies of visual function are essential in diabetic retinal disease (DRD) clinical research because they offer valuable insights into early retinal disease and how, over time, it impacts vision in the day-to-day life of people with diabetes. By assessing the practical effects of DRD on patients, these studies refine diagnoses, inform treatment strategies, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. To further advance this area, MTM Vision has developed a collaborative clinical research program with the DRCR Retina Network, aimed at validating endpoints to accelerate the development of new therapies and improve clinical decision-making.

Following global expert workshops and meetings, including an April 2023 event in New Orleans and discussions by the DRCR Retina Network at JAEB, MTM Vision has designed two clinical study protocols. These studies aim to assess new visual function measures identified by our project, comparing them with standard tests in clinical and office settings. The primary goal of these studies is to develop new visual function endpoints acceptable for clinical trials and regulatory approval of new treatments, while an important secondary goal is to validate biomarkers as surrogate or clinical endpoints to enhance research and clinical care.

Prioritizing the Patient Voice

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to always put the patient voice first. Understanding and addressing patient needs guides our research strategy and initiatives, accelerating the development of new treatments to prevent and cure diabetic retinal disease (DRD) and its associated vision loss and blindness.

Diabetes Retinal Disease Patient-Reported Outcome Tool Development

We’ve initiated the development of a Diabetic Retinal Disease Patient-Reported Outcome (DRD PRO) tool, supported by a matching contribution from the Macula Society. Dr. Thiran Jayasundera’s team at Michigan Medicine, known for the successful Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ) and Michigan Vision-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (MVAQ) for inherited retinal diseases, is leading this initiative. This tool will help ensure that the patient’s voice remains central in clinical care and research.

Honoring Patient Resilience

At all our conferences, we begin with a patient presentation highlighting their courage and determination in facing vision loss and blindness from diabetes. These stories serve as a beacon of hope and illustrate the incredible strength and perseverance of the human spirit.

Advancing understanding of DRD’s community impact: Dr. Brian VanderBeek’s Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative Physician-Scientist Award

Funded in partnership with Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), our first Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative Physician-Scientist Award was presented to Dr. Brian VanderBeek, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. VanderBeek’s research aims to deepen our understanding of Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) by providing accurate, current national prevalence and incidence measurements. By scrutinizing these metrics, his work seeks to illuminate the true impact of DRD on diverse communities, particularly those at elevated risk.

Spreading Awareness

We partner with the entertainment industry to support research to cure DRD.

Entertainment Industry Initiatives

MTM Vision is aligned with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which supports ground-breaking programs and campaigns that raise awareness and funds for issues affecting millions of people worldwide, such as vision loss from diabetes. EIF created and produced the Stand Up 2 Cancer campaign, which has raised over $800 million.

We launched our first PSA, “The Sight You Save May Be That of Someone You Love,” narrated by acclaimed actor Kevin Kline, a long-time friend of Mary’s and a diabetes advocate who, along with Mary, testified before the Senate in 2001 for diabetes research funding. The PSA includes remarks by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon, whose careers were inspired by Mary. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker James Keach directed the PSA.

Variety, the leading entertainment publication, created the inaugural Mary Tyler Moore Visionary Award, presented at the Variety TV FYC Fest to Oscar-nominated writer, actor, and producer Kristen Wiig. Kristen was recognized for her extensive and groundbreaking achievements in storytelling, matching Mary’s continuing extraordinary impact on the entertainment industry.

The HBO Max documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore” won a Critics Choice Award and Producers Guild Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award. Mary’s husband, Dr. S. Robert Levine served as executive producer of the documentary featured on the cover of People magazine and Parade, along with an interview segment with Robert on the TODAY Show and dozens of publications, including Vanity Fair, NPR, and others.