Innovations in Stargardt Disease Research: A Conversation with AAVantgarde Bio
Join the Carroll Center for the Blind for an educational webinar and a conversation on Stargardt disease with AAVantgarde Bio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing gene therapies for individuals with inherited retinal diseases. During this session, Dr. Jayashree Sahni, Chief Medical Officer at AAVantgarde, will give an overview of Stargardt disease and the gene therapy research that informs the CELESTE study, AAVantgarde’ s Phase 1/2 interventional clinical trial for individuals with ABCA4 related Stargardt disease. Dr Sahni will also speak with Alice Cadman and explore her experiences of living with Stargardt disease.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. EST
Location: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Speakers:
- Dr. Jayashree Sahni, Chief Medical Officer at AAVantgarde Bio
- Alice Cadman, musician, educator, and entrepreneur, as Co-founder of Sing Education in the UK
What You’ll Learn
- Stargardt disease
- The CELESTE clinical trial, including eligibility criteria and research objectives
- What to expect during a gene therapy trial
- The experience of a person living with Stargardt disease
Whether you are living with Stargardt disease, supporting a loved one, or working in the field, this is an opportunity to learn, engage, and ask questions of Jayashree and Alice.
This webinar will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel after the event. Make sure to subscribe to receive a notification when the recording is available!
About the Speaker
Dr. Jayashree Sahni has more than 25 years of ophthalmology and drug development experience. Prior to joining AAVantgarde, Dr. Sahni worked both at Novartis and Roche, leading clinical strategy, design, and execution of ophthalmology and gene therapy programs. Prior to joining the industry, Dr. Sahni was a Consultant Ophthalmologist & Medical Retina Specialist and the Head of the Liverpool Ophthalmic Reading Centre at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, England. Dr Sahni completed her post-doctoral fellowships at St Paul’s Eye Unit, Liverpool, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and is a UK Board-certified ophthalmologist.
Alice Cadman is a musician, educator, and entrepreneur, as Co-founder of Sing Education in the UK, as well as mum to 2 young boys. She has spent over a decade leading a national team and working with schools to bring the joy of singing and music-making to children. Drawing on her lived experience of sight loss following a Stargardt’s diagnosis at 22, shaped by its impact on studies, work, and everyday life, she is passionate about bringing together facilitation, coaching, and advocacy to help others understand visual impairment and confidently support and advocate for those living with sight loss.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or need help registering, please email development@carroll.org or call (617) 969-6200 ext 236.
