The physicians at Associated Retinal Consultants (ARC) sponsor research devoted to the advancement of medical and surgical care of retinal and macular diseases. Collaborative studies are performed with the National Institute of Health, the pharmaceutical industry, and other national and international institutions.
An independent Investigational Review Board (IRB) reviews all proposed research studies to ensure the efficacy and safety of protocols and treatment. IRB approval is required before a new study is conducted.

The following is a list of currently enrolling studies:
Title: A Phase 2, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Range Finding Study of Danicopan (ALXN2040) in Patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Protocol Number: ALXN2040-GA-201
Condition: Geographic Atrophy Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Study arms include:
100 mg twice a day dose group
200 mg twice a day dose group
400 mg once daily dose group
Placebo group
Route of administration: Oral
Sponsor: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Traverse City Site:
Principal Investigator: Douglas Covert, MD
Coordinator:
Serena Neal, CCRP (231) 938-0710 x 1514
Status: Recruiting
Title: A Randomized, Partially Masked, Controlled, Phase 3 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of RGX-314 Gene Therapy in Participants with nAMD (ASCENT).
Protocol Number: RGX-314-3101
Condition: Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD)
Eligible Subjects will be randomly assigned into one of the three study arms:
RGX-314 Treatment Arm A: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by an intravitreal injection of aflibercept (Eylea®) 2 mg approximately 4 weeks later. Surgical visit on Day 1 to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314 200 μL (6.4 X 1010 GC) in the study eye. Postoperative safety visits on Day 2 and Day 8. Additional dose of aflibercept (Eylea) 2 mg to be given 2 weeks after surgery. Subjects will return for site visits at specified intervals for approximately 1 year. Additional doses of intravitreal ranibizumab may be given if recommended by the study doctor.
RGX-314 Treatment Arm B: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by an intravitreal injection of aflibercept (Eylea®) 2 mg approximately 4 weeks later. Surgical visit on Day 1 to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314 200 μL (1.3 X 1011 GC) in the study eye. Postoperative safety visits on Day 2 and Day 8. Additional dose of aflibercept (Eylea) 2 mg to be given 2 weeks after surgery. Subjects will return for site visits at specified intervals for approximately 1 year. Additional doses of intravitreal ranibizumab may be given if recommended by the study doctor.
Control Arm: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by an intravitreal injection of aflibercept (Eylea®) 2 mg approximately 4 weeks later. Subjects will return at Week 2 and will receive intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea®) 2 mg. Following Week 2, subjects will return for monthly study visits and to receive an intravitreal injection of aflibercept (Eylea®) 2 mg. Visits will continue for approximately one year. After one year, eligible subjects will be offered the choice to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314.
Final Visit for all Arms A and B: Week 54
Final Visit for Control Arm: Week 54. Subjects opting to receive RGX-314 at Week 54 will then be followed until Week 90.
Sponsor: REGENXBIO, Inc.
Royal Oak Site:
Principal Investigator: Jeremy D. Wolfe, M.D.
Coordinators:
Christopher Tripp, BS 248-288-9132 ext. 1315
Ali Fanharawi, MD 248-288-9132 ext. 1333
Title: A Randomized, Partially Masked, Controlled, Phase 2b/3 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of RGX-314 Gene Therapy in Participants with nAMD (ATMOSPHERE).
Protocol Number: RGX-314-2104
Condition: Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD)
Eligible Subjects will be randomly assigned into one of the three study arms:
RGX-314 Treatment Arm A: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by a second 6 weeks later. Surgical visit on Day 1 to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314 200 μL (6.4 X 1010 GC) in the study eye. Postoperative safety visits on Day 2 and Day 8. Subjects will return for monthly site visits for approximately 2 years. Additional doses of intravitreal ranibizumab may be given if recommended by the study doctor.
RGX-314 Treatment Arm B: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by a second 6 weeks later. Surgical visit on Day 1 to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314 200 μL (1.3 X 1011 GC) in the study eye. Postoperative safety visits on Day 2 and Day 8. Subjects will return for monthly site visits for approximately 2 years. Additional doses of intravitreal ranibizumab may be given if recommended by the study doctor.
Control Arm: Screening/Active run-in period of up to 6 weeks. An intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) 0.5 mg at the first visit, followed by a second 6 weeks later. Subjects will return at Week 2 and will receive intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg. Following Week 2, subjects will return for monthly study visits and to receive an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab 0.5 mg. Visits will continue for approximately one year. After one year, eligible subjects will be offered the choice to receive a subretinal dose of RGX-314.
Final Visit for all Arms A and B: Week 98
Final Visit for Control Arm: Week 54. Subjects opting to receive RGX-314 at Week 54 will then be followed until Week 98.
Sponsor: REGENXBIO, Inc.
Royal Oak Site:
Principal Investigator: Tamer H. Mahmoud, M.D., Ph.D.
Coordinators:
Christopher Tripp, BS 248-288-9132 ext. 1315
Opal Potter, MS 248-288-9132 ext. 1333
Title: A Phase 2 Trial Of AU-011 Via Suprachoroidal Administration With A Dose Escalation Phase (Open-Label, Ascending Single And Repeat Dose) And A Randomized, Masked Dose Expansion Phase Designed To Evaluate The Safety And Efficacy Of AU-011 In Subjects With Primary Indeterminate Lesions And Small Choroidal Melanoma.
Protocol Number: AU-011-202
Condition: Primary Indeterminate Lesions and Small Choroidal Melanoma
Eligible Subjects will be assigned into one of six study cohorts:
Cohort 2: AU-011 dose of 40μg delivered via suprachoroidal injection followed by a laser application 4-6 hours after the suprachoroidal injection.
Cohort 4: AU-011 maximum tolerated dose of either 10μg, 20μg or 40μg delivered via suprachoroidal injection for 2 weeks each followed by one laser application 4-6 hours after the suprachoroidal injection or two laser applications about 30 minutes apart, with the first laser application 4-6 hours after the suprachoroidal injection.
Cohort 6: Randomized AU-011 or sham study drug in a 1:1 ratio. If 2 cycles of study drug are given, the second cycle of AU-011 or sham will be administered at Week 6 or after resolution of intraocular inflammation following the first cycle.
Final Visit for all arms: Week 104
Sponsor: Aura Biosciences, Inc.
Additional information about this trial is available at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov – NCT: 04417530
Royal Oak Site:
Principal Investigator: Antonio Capone Jr., M.D.
Coordinators:
Kendra Mellert, MSA, CCRC 248-288-9132 ext. 1313
Neil Shah, MPH 248-288-9132 ext. 1315
Title: Prospective Randomized Comparative Trial for Combination Dexamethasone Implant with PRN Anti-VEGF Therapy to Anti-VEGF Therapy Alone In Treatment Resistant Diabetic Macular Edema: Informing The Role For Imaging Biomarkers and Combination Therapy.
Protocol Number: PRECISION Study
Condition: Diabetic Macular Edema
Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Study groups include:
Group A: One aflibercept injection prior to randomization. Dexamethasone implant injection given at month 0 and then as needed if 10 weeks or more since last dexamethasone implant injection. If less than 10 weeks since last dexamethasone implant injection, then aflibercept injection as needed if edema persists.
Group B: One aflibercept injection prior to randomization. Aflibercept injection given at month 0 and then as needed aflibercept injection given at months 1 through 6 for persistent Diabetic Macular Edema.
Final visit for all arms: Month 6
Sponsor: Cleveland Clinic
Allergan
Title: A Registry Of Patients With Primary Choroidal Melanoma (CM) Or Indeterminate Lesions (ILS).
Protocol Number: AU-011-401
Condition: Primary Choroidal Melanoma (CM) or Indeterminate Lesions (ILS)
Eligible Subjects will participate in the Registry following completion of or withdrawal from participation in an Aura sponsored clinical trial for primary choroidal melanoma (CM) or indeterminate lesions (IL).
Final Visit: A minimum of 5 years (including time enrolled in an Aura sponsored clinical trial), until withdrawal of consent, or until death whichever comes first.
Sponsor: Aura Biosciences, Inc.
Royal Oak Site:
Principal Investigator: Antonio Capone Jr., M.D.
Coordinators:
Kendra Mellert, MSA CCRC 248-288-9132 ext. 1313
Christopher Tripp, BS 248-288-9132 ext. 1315
Opal Potter, MS 248-288-9132 ext. 1333
Title: A Natural History Observation and Registry Study of Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: The MacTel Study
Protocol Number: MacTel NHOR
Condition: Macular Telangiectasia Type 2
The study will develop a registry of patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 who may agree to be contacted for inclusion in future clinical trials.
Participants who meet the study eligibility criteria will be enrolled in the registry and will be seen for one clinic visit and, if they agree, they will be contacted at least annually for updates on their health.
Sponsor: The Lowy Medical Research Institute.
Principle Investigator:
Sandeep Randhawa, M.D. (Royal Oak)
Paul V. Raphaelian, M.D. (Grand Rapids)
Scott R. Sneed, M.D. (Traverse City)
Coordinators:
Kendra Mellert, MSA, CCRP; Royal Oak, MI 248-288-2280 Ext. 1313
Debra Markus, CCRP, COT; Grand Rapids, MI (616) 942-2406 Ext. 1720
Julie Darling, RN, CCRP; Traverse City, MI (231) 938-0710 Ext. 1514
Serena Neal, CCRP; Traverse City, MI (231) 938-0710 Ext.1516
Status: Enrolling