The world’s first premier academic platform on retinal diseases was officially established with the successful convening of its inaugural council meeting in Manila earlier this month.

The inaugural council of Academia Retina Internationals (ARI) was held during the 18th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society on Dec 13 and it formally appointed Hong Kong ophthalmologist Dennis Lam Shun-chiu as its first president.

Bringing together 100 leading retinal disease experts and leaders worldwide, ARI aims to advance the field through establishing international clinical consensus, fostering scientific innovation, conducting policy research, and promoting international collaboration, according to an ARI press release.

The platform addresses a pressing need for a high-level, globally representative collaborative platform in the rapidly evolving field of retinal diseases, which encompasses cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, gene therapy, surgical robotics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

ARI is committed to leveraging collective expertise to provide clinical guidance, reference materials, policy recommendations, and strategic advice for medical professionals, government agencies, regulatory bodies, industry stakeholders, and training programs.

Lam emphasized Hong Kong’s unique role in ARI’s future development. He highlighted the city's position as a “super connector,” enjoying both “strong support from the motherland and close connections with the world.”

He added that Hong Kong’s highly internationalized medical research environment attracts top global experts. Simultaneously, its proximity to the Chinese mainland's vast clinical resources and market offers ARI an unparalleled stage to promote international standards and accelerate innovative research.