Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative

For Dr. Gardner, the fight against vision loss from diabetes is personal. With two brothers, Tim and Ted, living with type 1 diabetes, he’s dedicated his career to understanding how diabetes impairs vision and is committed to finding ways to prevent and cure vision loss from diabetic retinal disease (DRD). Through groundbreaking research, he’s uncovering how diabetes impacts retinal nerve cells and developing ways to detect these changes early in patients. His mission is to blend patient care, teaching, and research to pave the way for future clinician-scientists and transform the lives of people with diabetes, each of whom is at risk for vision loss from DRD. To learn more about DRD, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/ex_ZT-ZT  #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy #MaryTylerMoore #T1D #Diagnose

At the Hawaiian Eye Retina 2025 conference, the DRCR Retina Network’s groundbreaking contributions to advancing care for diabetic retinal disease (DRD) were recognized. Jennifer Sun, MD, MPH, Scientific Co-Director of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, serves as Chair for Diabetes Initiatives of this NIH-funded network, which has played a pivotal role in shaping the standard of care for DRD. Recognized three times in the U.S. Congressional Record, the network’s impactful trials underscore the urgent need for continued collaboration to improve outcomes for millions affected by DRD. Additionally, the conference featured important discussions on pregnancy and diabetes, highlighting the need for early screening for DRD in pregnant patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Given the increased risk of diabetic eye disease progression during pregnancy, experts emphasized the importance of monitoring and timely intervention to protect both maternal and fetal health. These discussions align with MTM Vision’s mission to advance research, innovation, and education to improve outcomes for all individuals affected by and at risk for diabetes-related vision loss. #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy #MaryTylerMoore #T1D #Diagnose

We were honored to host an engaging and insightful session on "MTM Vision Communications, Collaborations, and Fund Development" at our 3rd Annual Symposium, “Curing Vision Loss from Diabetes.”  Moderated by Eric Carlson, Co-Director of Media and Cause Marketing for MTM Vision, the session explored strategies for public outreach and fund development, featuring an outstanding panel of experts:  🌟 Betsy Cote – Vice President, Philanthropy | Joslin Diabetes Center 🌟 Christopher Shoemaker – Managing Director | University of Michigan 🌟 Maurine S. – SVP of Media Development and Entertainment Relations | Stand Up to Cancer 🌟 Sandra Puczynski, PhD – MTM Vision Lay Advisor Their expertise centers on building public awareness and support for major academic health institutions and grass-roots “cure” focused organizations —bringing insights essential to our success in our mission of curing vision loss and transforming lives. Thank you to our panelists and attendees for making this day so impactful.  To listen to the session, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/eeFi7QTF #MTMVisionInitiative #CuringVisionLoss #DiabetesResearch #VisionForTheFuture #EyeHealth #MaryTylerMoore #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy

Diabetic retinal disease (DRD) is a leading cause of blindness in working adults worldwide, yet current diagnostic and treatment methods are outdated and inadequate. Through innovative research, groundbreaking collaborations, and a patient-first approach, the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative is advancing the science needed to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure vision loss and blindness from diabetes. We won’t stop until no one loses their sight to diabetes. To learn more about DRD and what MTM Vision is doing, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/eZcdVfi4 #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy #MaryTylerMoore #T1D #Diagnose

Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with diabetes at 33, and by 49, her ability to do many of the things she loved was significantly limited due to vision loss from diabetes. Mary’s husband, Dr. S. Robert Levine, founded the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to honor Mary’s remarkable contributions to diabetes research and her unwavering promise that one day, people with diabetes could live joyful, independent lives without the fear of vision loss or blindness. While Mary did not see a cure for diabetes during her lifetime, her legacy endures through our efforts to ensure future generations will not face the challenges she endured. To learn more about what MTM Vision is doing, please visit the link below:  https://lnkd.in/eZcdVfi4  #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #Mary #Donate #Diabetes #T1D #DiabeticRetinalDisease

At MTM Vision Initiative’s 3rd Annual Symposium, “Curing Vision Loss From Diabetes,” we welcomed Shelby Unsworth, PhD, Michigan Medicine, and Marianne Laouri, PhD,  Global Asset Lead, Retinal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Boehringer Ingelheim is the first pharmaceutical company to join the MTM Vision Consortium, an international collaboration uniting universities, foundations, and biotech companies to advance early DRD detection, identification of endpoints for risk of vision loss and treatment benefit and groundbreaking therapies.. This partnership will help develop better ways of diagnosing and treating DRD before vision loss occurs. To watch the session, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/gU-d4YbD #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy #MaryTylerMoore #T1D Harvard University Michigan Medicine

The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative is proud to partner with the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center retina specialist K. Thiran Jayasundera, M.D., M.S., who is leading the charge in developing innovative PRO tools to better understand the experiences of people living with diabetic retinal disease (DRD). MTM Vision and Dr. Jayasundera are creating a comprehensive, tailored PRO questionnaire for the DRD community—exploring everything from vision function to emotional and psychological well-being. Dr. Jayasundera and his team began an evaluation of 300 DRD patients last spring and are on track to complete the PRO by May 2025. In addition to its founding membership in the MTM Vision Consortium, Boehringer Ingelheim is supporting the development of the PRO tool. To learn more, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/eRZmJAyB

#DidYouKnow that women with diabetes should have their eyes examined by a retina specialist early in pregnancy? Hormonal, metabolic, and vascular changes during pregnancy can accelerate diabetic retinopathy potentially threatening vision. Pregnant patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes should be screened for retinopathy early in their pregnancy.” - Irena Tsui, MD. Dr. Tsui also highlighted that current diabetic retinopathy therapies aren’t well-studied in pregnant women, and anti-VEGF treatments may pose risks like placental insufficiency or preterm birth. To learn more about diabetic retinal disease, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/ex_ZT-ZT #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #Mary #Donate #Diabetes #T1D #DiabeticRetinalDisease #Pregnancy 

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the passing of the incomparable Mary Tyler Moore, a woman whose legacy extends far beyond the world of entertainment. 💞 Her courage, advocacy, and dedication to advancing diabetes research and supporting those affected by vision loss from diabetes remain an inspiration to us all. Through The Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative, her dream of a world free from vision loss from diabetes lives on. To donate in honor of Mary, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/eXWyyDmw #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVision #DiabetesAwareness #DRD #DiabeticRetinalDisease  #MaryTylerMooreShow #Anniversary #MaryTylerMooreVisionInitiaitve

Will Flanary, MD and Kristin Flanary, MA – aka “Dr. Glaucomflecken” and “Lady Glaucomflecken” recently were guest speakers at our 3rd Annual Fall Symposium, “Curing Vision Loss from Diabetes.” As the first MTM Vision Ambassadors, Will and Kristin shared how their medical experiences led to the creation of their personas as Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken and their resulting advocacy work in eye health and co-survivorship, blending humor and education to raise awareness and promote change. Their stories brought laughs and reinforced awareness, reinforcing the importance of MTM Vision’s mission to prevent and cure vision loss from diabetes. Thank you @DocGlauc and @LGlaucomflecken. To learn more about our Symposium, please visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/e_ezRbRW #MaryTylerMoore #MTMVisionInitiative #StoriesThatInspire #MTMVision #Mary #Diabetes #DiabeticRetinopathy #MaryTylerMoore #T1D #Diagnose