A new understanding of age-related macular degeneration | Joshua Chu-Tan | TEDxChristchurch

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world—and it has no cure. But recent advances in genetics have allowed a team of researchers in Australia to identify a kind of microRNA that could offer answers. In this fascinating talk, Dr Josh Chu-Tan explains the science behind their work, and shows how a new approach might unlock results that would otherwise be impossible. Joshua Chu-Tan is a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer in medical physiology and neuroscience at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Josh’s research at the ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research focuses on the role of microRNA and their potential use as novel gene therapeutics for progressive retinal degenerations, with a specific focus on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. His work in the field has been published in top-ranked ophthalmology and vision science journals and he also served as intern editor, blog writer, and advisor at world-leading academic publishing company, Springer Nature. Josh has earned numerous awards for conference presentations and public speaking events and competitions, including first prize at the Asia-Pacific 3 Minute Thesis, and A.T. Kearney Scholar/Finalist for Young Innovator of the Year at the prestigious Falling Walls Conference and Lab in Berlin, Germany. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx