Thomas Ach, MD, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
Dr Ach´s dedication is both patient care and advancing the field of ophthalmology through research and innovation. He is an ophthalmologist based in Bonn, Germany, who specializes in retinal diseases and vitreoretinal surgery, with a particular focus on macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment. Dr Ach is affiliated with the University Eye Hospital in Bonn, where he also contributes to academic teaching and mentoring of medical students and residents. He and his research group are highly regarded for their expertise in the use of advanced imaging techniques, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Fundus AutoFluorescence (AF) where he and his collaborators have contributed important work in recent years on cellular and subcellular changes in age-related macular degeneration. Dr Ach´s highly competitive research is funded by the NIH and BMBF, among others, and he and his research group have received numerous awards. His current work focuses on the further development of novel diagnostic tools for AMD and other retinal diseases as well as the development of therapeutic interventions for the early stages of AMD.
Andreas Pollreisz, MD, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Andreas Pollreisz is a Professor of Ophthalmology and a Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon at the Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. He serves as the head of the unit for diabetic ocular diseases and plays a leading role in advancing both clinical and translational research in retinal disorders. As the founder of the “Advanced Retinal Imaging Lab,” he has pioneered efforts in developing and applying state-of-the-art imaging modalities, with a focus on widefield and ultra-high-resolution techniques to study retinal pathologies. Professor Pollreisz’s primary research interests encompass diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, automated image analysis, and the clinical implementation of advanced retinal imaging technologies. His work is dedicated to improving early diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and optimizing therapeutic strategies for retinal diseases. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals and regularly contributes as a reviewer for high-impact scientific outlets such as Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), Ophthalmology, and the American Journal of Ophthalmology, among others. He is an active member of numerous prestigious professional organizations, including the Macula Society and Retina Society, and contributes to various national and international scientific advisory boards and committees. Throughout his career, Professor Pollreisz has delivered over 200 invited lectures at major international conferences and academic institutions and has held visiting professorships at several universities worldwide. In recognition of his scientific and clinical contributions, he has received numerous national and international awards and has been honored with several named lectureships.
Giuseppe Querques, MD, PhD, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Italy
Giuseppe Querques, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor at University Vita-Salute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. His main topics are Medical Retina and Ophthalmic Surgery. Dr Querques has contributed to more than 700 peer-reviewed articles and over 20 books and book chapters as Editor/Author published mainly in the areas of Medical Retina (age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases, hereditary retinal diseases, ophthalmic genetics). Dr Querques has been a Board Member of the European Association of Retinal Specialists (EURETINA), and is currently a Board Member of the International Retinal Imaging Society (IntRIS), the Asia Pacific Retinal Imaging Society (APRIS), and the Italian Retina Society (SIR). He is a Member, among others, of the Retina Society, the Club Jules Gonin, and the Macula Society, and is the recipient of the Achievement Award of the AAO and the Young Investigator Award of the Macula Society. Dr Querques serves currently as Editor In Chief/Associate Editor/Editorial Board Member of Expert Review of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmologica, Ophthalmology and Therapy, Asia Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, Retinal Cases & Brief Reports, BMC Ophthalmology, and American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports.
