The ICR Research Department was created in June 2006 with the conviction that the best care for patients is achieved through meticulous assistance supported by professionals with solid training, the most advanced technology and rigorous research activity. The fundamental objective of the department is to promote, facilitate and guide research of the highest quality and rigour in the field of ophthalmology. The Research Department has its own facilities and specific, experienced staff.
The clinical research projects currently underway evaluate the latest diagnostic technologies and the latest medical and surgical treatments for ophthalmological pathology. Our participation in national and international research projects allows us to be in contact with the most advanced technology and the latest treatments.
The ICR is a member of the EVICR.net (European Vision Institute for Clinical Research network) of which about 100 institutions across Europe are members. All EVICR centres share rigorous and demanding procedures for conducting clinical studies and trials.
At ICR we are convinced that clinical and applied research brings new knowledge, rigour and strength to the healthcare we provide.
ICR has a Research Committee that reviews and evaluates each of the trials and projects that may be carried out at the institution. The Research Committee decides which are sufficiently interesting, scientifically innovative and respectful of ethical principles, and only those are accepted and implemented.
All clinical trials and studies go through the Research Ethics Committee (REC), an independent part of the ICR, which ensures the protection of patients participating in these studies. Without prior IRB approval, a project or trial cannot be carried out.
We are currently working on more than 20 projects at the time, including clinical trials and our own studies. That being said, this number oscillates throughout the year and could increase in the upcoming months.
ICR participates in Clinical Trials of different phases (I-IV) promoted by pharmaceutical laboratories and also carries out projects promoted by its own researchers (medical, optometry, auxiliary and nursing departments).
A large percentage of ICR staff are involved in research activity and all ICR researchers have the necessary up-to-date training in good clinical practice.
The following projects are currently active:
| Title | Area | Main investigator |
| Randomized, Double-Masked, Multicenter, 3-Arm Pivotal Phase 2/3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal XXX Compared with Intravitreal YYY in Participants with Diabetic Macular Edema | Diabetic Macular Edema | Dr. Jürgens |
| A randomized, active controlled, safety and tolerability study of XXX, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the IGF-1 receptor, in participants with thyroid eye disease (TED) | Thyroid Orbitopathy | Dr. Ibáñez |
| A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Immunogenicity of XXX Administered by Prefilled Syringe in Adult Participants With Thyroid Eye Disease | Thyroid Orbitopathy | Dr. Ibáñez |
| A phase III multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled, parallel-group trial of the efficacy of XXX on visual field preservation in patients with open angle glaucoma | Glaucoma | Dr. Antón |
| Evaluation of long-term safety and performance of XXX & YYY Intraocular Lens (IOLs) | Cataract | Dr. Pedrell |
| A Double-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, 12-Week Administration With Two-Week Gradual Dose Taper Phase and 38-Week Follow-Up Phase, Phase 3 Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of XXX Eye Drops After Simultaneous Cataract Surgery and Descemetorhexis in Subjects with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy | Fuchs’ Dystrophy | Dr. Ruiz |
| A Double-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, 12-Week Administration With Two-Week Gradual Dose Taper Phase and 38-Week Follow-Up Phase, Phase 3 Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of XXX Eye Drops After Descemetorhexis in Subjects with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy | Fuchs’ Dystrophy | Dr. Ruiz |
| A multicentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of XXX administered topically in patients with moderately severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy | Diabetic Retinopathy | Dr. Tsiroukis |
| A Phase 2b, Randomized, Double-masked, Multicenter, Dose-ranging, Sham-controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate Intravitreal XXX Compared to Sham Procedure for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) | Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) | Dr. Jürgens |
| An Open-Label Extension (OLE) Phase 3 Trial to Assess the Safety of Intravitreal Administration of XXX in Patients with Geographic Atrophy who Previously Completed Phase 3 Study YYY (GATHER2) | ARMD | Dr. Jürgens |
| A Phase 2, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Range Finding Study of XXX in Patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) | ARMD | Dr. Jürgens |
| A Phase 3, Two-part (Open-label Followed by Randomized Double-masked Active Controlled) Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of XXX Administered by Intravitreal Injection with YYY in Subjects with wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (wAMD) | ARMD | Dr. Jürgens |
| A Phase 3, Multicentre, Double-masked, Randomised Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal XXX in Combination with YYY, Compared with YYY, in Participants with Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) | ARMD | Dr. Jürgens |
In 2024, we are working on more than 8 of our own studies, of which the approved ones are listed below. The Research Department provides support in designing the protocols for our own research studies, coordinates the processing of the relevant approvals, helps to set up the studies, monitors their execution and helps and advises on the dissemination of the results.
| Title | Area | Main investigator |
| Características de pacientes con neuropatía óptica isquémica no arterítica | Optic neuropathies | Dr. Llago |
| El cociente estatura-eje axial ocular como índice predictivo de miopía infantil | Child myopia | Dr. Cavero and Marc Martínez, D.O.O. |
| Estudi de la diplopia binocular: causes, diagnòstic, tractament i impacte en la qualitat de vida del pacient | Strabismus | Dr. Soldevila |
| Evaluación XXX + YYY en el tratamiento del glaucoma | Glaucoma | Dr. Antón |
| Fluctuations of the intraocular pressure in surgically treated glaucoma patients with iStent inject W by a contact lens sensor | Glaucoma | Dr. Navero |
If you are interested in volunteering to participate in a trial or study, you can ask your ophthalmologist or contact the Research Department directly on +34 93 253 16 47. They will assess whether you meet the necessary requirements to participate in any of the Trials that are being carried out at the moment and will advise you if this is the case.
Currently the average number of scientific publications in journals is 11 per year. All of them can be consulted in the publications section.
At the same time, the Research Department holds the annual Research Awards, which from 2021 will be called the Dr. Ramon Martí i Bonet Ophthalmology Research Awards, in honour of the founder of the ICR. Since the first edition, several high-level projects have been highlighted, which have contributed to the research community in the areas of ophthalmology and optometry.
Head of Research at ICR:
Dr. Alfonso Antón
Research Department:
Antonio Morilla. Senior coordinator of clinical trials and studies.
Estela Sánchez. Junior coordinator of clinical trials and studies.
Liliana Araujo. Optometrist. Junior coordinator of clinical trials and studies.
Marc Martínez. Optometrist. Junior coordinator of clinical trials and studies.
Contact us or request an appointment with one of our specialists.
