Diabetic retinal disease cure accelerator: Modernizing staging and endpoints.
Konstantina Sampani1, Ward Fickweiler2, Dorene S Markel3
1Beetham Eye Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research
|May 22, 2026
Summary
The Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) Cure Accelerator is modernizing staging and endpoints for DRD. This initiative focuses on validated structural and functional measures to accelerate new therapies for vision loss.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diabetology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Current Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) staging systems lack clinical meaning.
- Validated endpoints are crucial for advancing DRD therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To modernize clinically meaningful staging systems and endpoints for Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD).
- To establish an international consensus on robust endpoints for DRD diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- A workshop with over 100 international experts in June 2025.
- Emphasis on validated structural and functional endpoints grounded in the retinal neurovascular unit.
- Integration of scientific, clinical, and patient-centered perspectives.
Main Results:
- Highlighted limitations of current DRD staging.
- Identified early biomarkers: retinal nonperfusion, inner retinal thinning, and retinal layer disorganization.
- Prioritized functional endpoints: contrast sensitivity, electrophysiology, and mobility parameters.
Conclusions:
- A precision-based approach facilitates phenotyping for targeted drug discovery and curative therapeutics.
- Next steps include prospective studies, harmonized protocols, and AI-based endpoints.
- The Accelerator aims to transform DRD diagnosis and treatment, reducing diabetes-related vision loss worldwide.
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