ProQR Talks episode #3 "Empowering the IRD community with knowledge of their genetic diagnosis"

ProQR Talks episode #3 "Empowering the IRD community with knowledge of their genetic diagnosis" featuring Kari Branham and Ben Shaberman. Recorded in September, 2020. These series of online talks aim to breakdown some of the harder topics we tackle in healthcare. We will do this by bringing together some of the best speakers from across the inherited retinal community. The talks are hosted by Andy Bolan, who is Associate Director, Patient & Medical Community Engagement at ProQR Therapeutics. In this episode we discuss the crucial role of a genetic diagnosis for someone with an inherited retinal disease or IRD. Bringing both the genetic counselor and patient advocacy perspectives in this podcast, we aim to show the empowerment an individual can have from the deep knowledge of their genetic condition and what to do with that information. Kari Branham is a Clinical Assistant Professor and genetic counselor at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center. She has worked as a genetic counselor at the Kellogg Eye Center for nearly 18 years. In this position, she provides clinical genetic counseling for patients affected with inherited retinal diseases, pediatric eye diseases, and other inherited eye conditions. Ben Shaberman is the Senior Director, Scientific Outreach and Community Engagement, Foundation Fighting Blindness. For more than 15 years, Ben has been reporting on retinal research for all of the Foundation’s electronic and print publications. Ben also enjoys working with constituents one-on-one to help them understand their retinal disease and the research underway that may benefit them. ProQR is a proud partner of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and more information can be found here: https://www.fightingblindness.org. Learn more about the 'Open access genetic testing' program that provides free genetic testing for people that are diagnosed with an IRD in the US: https://www.fightingblindness.org/ope... The ProQR Talks podcast are also available on SoundCloud:   / proqr   ProQR Therapeutics is biotech company that develops RNA therapies for inherited retinal diseases, with a high need for new medicines, like Leber congenital amaurosis, Usher syndrome and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Learn more on https://www.proqr.com