Swiss Visio Retina Research Center

The retina research centre is active in the field of retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathies, retinal vascular anomalies and cancer-associated retinopathies. 

The research carried out at the Swiss Visio Retina Research Center is helping to expand our knowledge of retinal pathologies, contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches and optimise current treatments.

Team
Specialties
History
Research & Studies
Equipment & Certifications

Team

The multidisciplinary team consists of 17 qualified members of staff: 

  • PD Dr méd. Aude Ambresin, founder and head of the research centre and principal investigator
  • 3 research coordinators 
  • 2 research fellows 
  • 2 photographers specialising in ophthalmological imaging 
  • 4 clinical research nurses
  • 3 optometrists and orthoptists 
  • 1 data Manager
  • 1 biostatistician

Expertise

Our areas of expertise are

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal venous and arterial occlusions
  • Retinopathies associated with cancer
  • Retinal dystrophies

Contact

researchretina@swissvisio.net

+41 79 635 74 97

History

Research activities began in 2019 and the research centre was recognised in 2022. The Swiss Visio Retina Research Center (SVRRC) has been a member of the European Vision Clinical Research network (EVICR.net) since June 2022 (clinical site no. 136). Research activities are conducted in compliance with the high standards of quality and excellence set out in the ICH Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Our doctor

Swiss Visio

PD Dr med Aude Ambresin

Specialisation
Ophthalmology, Retina, Retinal and macular diseases, Eye surgery, Cataracts, Eye inflammation, Eye consultations View more
View profile

Our research and studies

We are participating in international multicentre Phase II, III and IV studies. Dr Ambresin also initiates her own clinical studies, with the aim of expanding knowledge in the field of retinal pathologies and contributing to therapeutic innovation. The results of our research are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at international conferences.


A valuable database of several thousand patients with retinal damage has been set up. Patients are classified according to their pathology(ies), treatment(s) and a number of other parameters, making it possible to identify cohorts of patients suitable for inclusion in the various clinical studies.


We also provide support for research projects undertaken at Swiss Visio Montchoisi (the first establishment in French-speaking Switzerland to be certified as a B centre for postgraduate training in ophthalmology and ophthalmosurgery), as part of the training course leading to the title of FMH specialist in ophthalmology.

Discover the CV of SVRRC

List of current SVRRC multicentre studies:

  • PULSAR (Bayer) - Randomized, Double-Masked, Active-Controlled, Multi-Center Study Of Efficacy And Safety Of Intravitreal High Dose A. In Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular, PI 2021, ongoing.
  • SANDCAT (Roche) - A phase III, multicenter, randomised, double masked, sham-controlled study to investigate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of anti-IL6 in adult patients with uveitic macular edema, to be started.
  • QUASAR (Bayer) - Randomized, Double-Masked, Active-Controlled, Phase 3 Study of the Efficacy and Safety of A. in Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion, 2023, to be started.
  • INTERCEPT-AMD – A collaborative resource of Heidelberg multimodal imaging of Intermediate AMD with and without early atrophy to study prediction of disease progression, in collaboration with the EVICR.net, 2023, ongoing.
  • VOYAGER (Roche) - Real-world, long-term data collection to gain clinical insights into Roche ophthalmology products.
  • SPECTRUM (Bayer) – An observational study program to investigate the effectiveness of aflibercept 8mg used in nDME and nAMD in a real-world setting, to be started

List of single-centre studies in progress at the SVRRC:

  • Calci C, Barbosa M, Owlya N, Ambresin A, Evolution of acute intraocular pressure elevations following intravitreal anti-VEGF injections over one year of treatment, ongoing.
  • Barbosa M, Ambresin A, Switch from A. to F. in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, ongoing.
  • Barbosa M, Ambresin A, Efficacy and durability of faricimab intravitreal injections in naïve patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, ongoing.
  • Owlya N, Ambresin A, Intravitreal Faricimab in patients treated for refractory diabetic macular edema, ongoing.
  • Owlya N, Ambresin A, Photobiomodulation therapy in patients with early to intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration, to be started.

The main equipment

  • Optical coherence tomograph (SD-OCT Heidelberg Spectralis)
  • Fluorescence angiography and ICG (Heidelberg Spectralis)
  • Colour fundus photography (Zeiss Clarus 700)
  • OCT angiography (Optovue AngioVue)
  • Ultra-wide field optical coherence tomography with integrated Swept-Source (SS-OCT Optos Silverstone)
  • Specular microscope (Topcon SP-1P)
  • Photobiomodulation (LumiThera Valeda Light Delivery System)
  • Micro ophthalmic perimeter, non-mydriatic retinal camera (Centervue Maia)
  • Simultaneous stereoscopic retinal camera (Kowa Nonmyd WX-3D)
  • Perimeter (Haag Streit Octopus 900)
  • Laser (Ellex Tango & Topcon Pascal)
  • Ultrasound biomicroscope (Tomey UD-1000)
  • ETDRS light box and scales 
  • Pelli-Robson low contrast acuity chart 
  • Ocular tonometers (GAT, iCare, TonoAir, Tonopen)
  • ECG analysis system (GE Healthcare MAC 2000)
  • Arterial tonometer
  • Temperature-controlled fridges and freezers
  • Centrifuge

Past and current certifications

Premises for measuring visual acuity:    

  • EMMES Optym Ophthalmic Certification
  • Klinitrail Certification

Optometrists and orthoptists:    

  • EMMES
  • Klinitrial

Photographers: 

  • Bern Photographic Reading Center
  • Grade Reading Center
  • Fundus Photography Reading Center

Certified by Merit (formerly EyeKor) & Grade Reading center:

  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT Heidelberg Spectralis)
  • Fluorescence angiography and ICG (Heidelberg Spectralis)
  • Colour fundus photography (Clarus 700)
  • OCT angiography (Optovue AngioVue)