DRCR.net has great impact on understanding, treatment of diabetes-related eye disease

I have previously written several commentaries on the topic of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Rather than repeating these comments, I would like to share some thoughts on the source of much of my information, the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network. DRCR.net is a collaborative network created to facilitate multicenter clinical research into diabetes-associated eye disease, including DR and DME, cataract, glaucoma, vitreous hemorrhage and other conditions associated with diabetes. This network, funded by the National Eye Institute, has contributed greatly to our understanding and treatment of eye disease associated with diabetes.The DRCR.net was established in September 2002 and is a fantastic example of public-private collaboration. The clinician network currently includes more than 115 participating private practice and academic medical center sites with more than 400 committed vitreoretinal specialist ophthalmologists. The network also collaborates constructively with industry, evaluating the comparative safety and efficacy of drugs and devices. Any retina specialist who qualifies can participate and also submit a protocol idea. The network chair is Lee M. Jampol, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The Coordinating Center is based at the Jaeb Center for Health Research in Tampa, Florida, and directed by Adam R. Glassman, MS, and Roy W. Beck, MD, PhD. The NEI Project Officer is Eleanor Schron, PhD, RN.