Skip to content

Dr. Varano Monica

Scientific Director
Ophthalmologist, Researcher
Varano Monica
Specialization: Ophthalmology (1988)
Professional register: Provincial Register of Medical Doctors and Surgeons of Rome (Order of the Province of Rome) No. 35928 dated April 26, 1985

Works at IRCCS Fondazione G.B. Bietti at the locations Via Livenza 3 and Via di Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, as well as at the British Hospital, Rome.

Scientific Publications: PubMed

 

  • 1984 – Degree in Medicine and Surgery (110/110 with honors), University “La Sapienza,” Rome
  • 1988 – Specialization in Ophthalmology (70/70 with honors), University “La Sapienza,” Rome
  • 1989 – Recipient of a Scholarship from the G.B. Bietti Foundation
  • 1993 – Training at the Department of Laser and Angiography, University of Créteil, Paris, under Director Prof. Gabriel Coscas
  • 1991 – 2005: Researcher, Department of Medical Retina, Fondazione Bietti
  • 2005 – 2014: Tenured Researcher, Head of the Medical Retina Unit, Fondazione G.B. Bietti-IRCCS
  • 2008 – 2014: Head of the Maculopathy Center, Fondazione G.B. Bietti-IRCCS, at the British Hospital – ASL S. Giovanni Addolorata, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
  • Since September 2014: Scientific Director, IRCCS Fondazione G.B. Bietti
  • Since 2016: Faculty Member, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome and University “Campus Biomedico” of Rome
  • 1998 – 2007: Member of the Scientific Committee of S.I.R. (Italian Retina Society)
  • 2008: Contributor to the drafting of the Italian Guidelines for Age-related Macular Degeneration
  • 2008: Principal Investigator, research project “Identification of Genetic Determinants of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes”
  • 2009: Principal Investigator, research project “Biomarkers of Inflammation and Innate Immunity in Diabetic Retinopathy”
  • 2009: Contributor to the drafting of the Italian Consensus Document on Medical Therapy and Prevention of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
  • 2009: Professor, Master in Vitreoretinal Surgery, Polytechnic University of Marche
  • 2010: Contributor to the drafting of the Consensus Document for Retinal Venous Occlusions
  • 2011: President, S.I.R. (Italian Retina Society)
  • 2011: Professor, Second-Level Master “Vitreoretinal Pathology: From Diagnosis to Medical and Surgical Therapy,” Catholic University of Rome
  • Since 2012: Member of the “Ocular Complications of Diabetes” working group, SID (Italian Society of Diabetology)
  • 2012 – 2013: Contributor to the drafting of the Italian Guidelines for Diabetic Retinopathy
  • 2013: Contributor to the Consensus Document for the Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Vitreomacular Traction
    Lecturer in approximately 200 courses and conferences, mainly on functional and morphological diagnosis, laser and PDT treatment, and anti-angiogenic therapy for vascular and degenerative chorioretinal diseases
  • Since 1990: Italian Society of Ophthalmology (Società Oftalmologica Italiana)
  • Since 1998: Italian Society of Retina (SIR)
  • Since 2000: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
  • Since 2002: Jules Gonin Club
  • Since 2006: American Academy of Ophthalmology

  • Open-label, multicenter study on photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin for predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration in Italy (VIT)Open-label, multicenter, randomized case-control trial evaluating antioxidant therapy with Azyr in early age-related macular degeneration

  • Phase 3, six-month, multicenter, masked, randomized, sham-controlled trial (with six-month open-label extension) assessing safety and efficacy of Dexamethasone Posterior Segment Drug Delivery System (DEX PS DDS) in macular edema following central or branch retinal vein occlusion

  • Phase 3, three-year, multicenter, masked, randomized, sham-controlled trial evaluating DEX PS DDS in diabetic macular edema (Mead)

  • Phase II, 12-month, randomized, double-masked, multicenter study assessing verteporfin photodynamic therapy combined with Lucentis™ versus Lucentis™ monotherapy in subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD (Montblanc)

  • 12-month, open-label case series on intravitreal Lucentis plus Verteporfin in treatment-naïve subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD (Luvi)

  • Phase 3, randomized, double-masked, active-controlled study on repeated intravitreal VEGF Trap-Eye in neovascular AMD

  • Phase II, prospective, randomized, multicenter diabetic macular edema dose-ranging study comparing PF-04523655 versus laser therapy (DEGAS)

  • Phase 3, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled study on repeated intravitreal VEGF Trap-Eye in macular edema secondary to CRVO (GALILEO)

  • Clinical safety and efficacy comparison of NEVANAC 0.1% versus vehicle after cataract surgery in diabetic retinopathy patients (MIZAR)

  • Two-year, randomized, single-masked, multicenter trial comparing “treat and extend” versus PRN ranibizumab in diabetic macular edema (RETAIN)

  • Phase III, randomized, double-masked, active-controlled study of repeated intravitreal VEGF Trap-Eye in diabetic macular edema (VIVID)

  • 12-month, multicenter, randomized study comparing Ozurdex versus Lucentis in branch retinal vein occlusion (COMO)

  • Phase II, six-month, double-masked, multicenter, placebo-controlled study evaluating topical FOV2304 for clinically significant diabetic macular edema (FOVEA)

  • EVI: Non-invasive assessment of retinal disease progression in NPDR in type 2 diabetes

  • LUZO: Open-label, multicenter, randomized study comparing DEX PS DDS versus ranibizumab in diabetic macular edema

  • PRIDE: Expanded access program of ranibizumab in diabetic macular edema patients lacking suitable alternatives

  • AURA: Retrospective, non-interventional study assessing anti-VEGF treatment regimens in wet AMD

  • TREND: 12-month, randomized, assessor-masked, multicenter study comparing treat-and-extend versus monthly ranibizumab in neovascular AMD

  • MINERVA: 12-month, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled study of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in VEGF-driven CNV

  • PROTEUS: Prospective, randomized, multicenter, phase II/III study assessing ranibizumab plus panretinal photocoagulation versus PRP monotherapy in high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy

  • POLARIS: Non-interventional study assessing anti-VEGF treatment effectiveness in central diabetic macular edema

  • OLIMPIC: 12-month, open-label, multicenter study on retreatment criteria with ranibizumab in myopic CNV

  • FOVISTA: Phase 3, randomized, double-masked trial assessing Fovista (anti-PDGF-B aptamer) plus Lucentis versus Lucentis monotherapy in subfoveal neovascular AMD

  • Tweyes: 12-month, prospective, open-label, single-arm study on safety and tolerability of ranibizumab 0.5 mg in wAMD with poor BCVA and/or second-eye disease

  • Assessment of anatomical and functional outcomes in patients treated with Ocriplasmin for vitreomacular traction

  • ARTES: Collaborative retrospective trial on intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) in diabetic macular edema

  • Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled study of Lampalizumab ITV injections in geographic atrophy secondary to AMD

  • DARPin: Safety and efficacy study of Abicipar Pegol in neovascular AMD

  • CENTERA: Phase IV, multicenter, single-arm interventional study evaluating treat-and-extend intravitreal Aflibercept for CRVO

  • British Journal of Ophthalmology
  • Retinal Cases & Brief Reports
  • Archives of Ophthalmology
  • Retina
  • European Journal of ophthalmology
  • BMC Ophthalmology
  • International Journal of Ophthalmology
  • Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
  • BioMed Research International
  • Winner, 2008 Targeted Research Project, Ministry of Health: “Identification of Genetic Determinants of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes”
  • Winner, 2009 Targeted Research Project, Ministry of Health: “Biomarkers of Inflammation and Innate Immunity in Diabetic Retinopathy”
  • Best Paper, Italian Society of Ophthalmology (SOI), 2017

 

Skip to content