ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RetroSense Therapeutics, a biotechnology company dedicated to developing gene therapy approaches to vision restoration welcomes Peter Francis, MD, PhD to its senior management team as Clinical Director.
“Dr. Francis brings extensive clinical experience in retinal degenerative conditions to the team. As we progress toward the clinic with our treatment, Dr. Francis’ experience in ocular gene therapy will be instrumental,” stated Sean Ainsworth, CEO and founder of RetroSense Therapeutics. “His passion and enthusiasm for helping patients will be well-placed at RetroSense.”
Dr. Francis has been influential in the early clinical development of several novel therapeutic approaches, including gene therapies. For his outstanding work, throughout his career, he has received numerous awards including "best up-and-coming medical researcher in the United Kingdom 2002" and the Foulds Trophy best-research prize at the UK National Ophthalmology Conference. Dr. Francis recently directed a translational research center specializing in human clinical trials for orphan and inherited diseases of the retina, and has participated in preparation and submission of multiple INDs to the FDA.
“I am very excited to join the RetroSense team. We are working to swiftly and safely bring our optogenetic therapy for the eye to the clinic. This treatment is exciting because it has great promise for vision restoration in patients with currently blinding diseases of the retina.”
Dr. Francis graduated from medical school in the UK and undertook residency in London, UK. He is fellowship trained in retina and genetics (Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and Casey Eye Institute, USA). Dr Francis has held academic faculty positions at St Thomas’ Hospital, London and most recently, Casey Eye Institute, Portland, OR.
About RetroSense Therapeutics:
RetroSense Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a game-changing gene therapy to restore vision in patients suffering from blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (advanced dry-AMD). There are currently no FDA approved therapies to improve or restore vision in patients with these retinal degenerative conditions. RetroSense is led by a team of seasoned veterans with deep experience in taking products from the discovery stage through to the clinic. For more information about RetroSense, visit http://www.retro-sense.com/.