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About Stereotactic Radiotherapy

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) involves targeted delivery of radiation to the macula, using a robotically controlled device, as a treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Treatment is delivered as a one-off, non-surgical procedure, lasting about 15-30 minutes. SRT is designed to accurately target the site of choroidal neovascularisation, with the aim of reducing or eliminating disease activity. The INTREPID study (Ophthalmology 2013; 120(9): 1893-900) investigated SRT in 230 patients with nAMD. Patients received either 16-Gy, 24-Gy or a sham treatment. In both the treatment groups there was a statistically significant reduction in the number of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) injections required at 1 year compared to the control group.

Further information on the INTREPID study results is available here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23490327

About the STAR Study

STAR is a Phase III, randomised, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial of SRT. STAR aims to recruit 411 UK participants with active wet AMD, randomised 2:1 to SRT plus as needed (PRN) ranibizumab (Lucentis®) versus as needed ranibizumab monotherapy. The research is lead by Tim Jackson, sponsored by King's College London, and funded by the National Institute of Health Research Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme. More details are available here, including both a lay and scientific summary (NIHR EME webpage http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/eme/126622).

How Can I Refer a Participant?

If you have a patient you would like to refer for the STAR Study please see which nearby sites are recruiting, and contact them directly.

The following key questions may help you and your patient determine if they might be eligible. Patient information is available here.

Can I Become a Recruiting Site?

We welcome interest from NHS hospitals wishing to act as recruiting and treatment sites. Please use the contact form to get in touch with the King's College Hospital retinal research team.