About Us
The strategic consortium between Avicemer, the Central & Eastern Europe Research Institute (CEERI), and the Avicenna Cell & Gene Therapy Center (ACGTC) unites leading regional expertise to support clinical research programs in ophthalmology.
240M+
400+
50+
Combined Patient Population
Ophthalmologists
Research Centers
Deep local regulatory knowledge, years of trial management experience, and state-of-the-art medical and laboratory infrastructure enable the consortium to deliver end-to-end operational support across Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Combining international research standards with on-the-ground execution, we help biopharmaceutical sponsors to efficiently conduct advanced ophthalmic studies and accelerate patient access to innovative therapies throughout the MENA and CEE regions.
Regional Strengths
& Patient Access
The four countries we cover represent large and diverse populations with strong demand for specialized eye care. Established tertiary eye centers, national and regional referral networks, and growing rare-disease initiatives enable both high-volume recruitment for common conditions and targeted identification of patients with rarer diagnoses.
Coordinated operational models across surgical and non-surgical sites — including patient transit, surgeon transit, and local investigator training — to maximize enrollment reach. Sponsors benefit from meaningful cost decrease and efficient activation timelines compared with traditional Western markets, without compromising international standards.
We support the full spectrum of ophthalmology clinical research — from high-volume studies in cataract, glaucoma, medical retina, and refractive surgery to complex programs in inherited retinal diseases.
TR
Türkiye
SA
Saudi Arabia
AE
United Arab Emirates
EG
Egypt
Advanced Infrastructure
Participating centers operate in alignment with ICH-GCP principles and are equipped with the diagnostic and surgical technologies expected in modern ophthalmic research:
High-resolution OCT and multimodal retinal imaging
Standard and advanced visual function testing
State-of-the-art vitreoretinal and anterior segment surgical suites
Established pathways for complex procedures and long-term follow-up
Multidisciplinary collaboration between ophthalmology, genetics, pediatrics, and clinical research units
This infrastructure supports seamless study conduct from screening through extended observation periods.
Clinical Research
Services
We deliver end-to-end operational support tailored to ophthalmology programs of any complexity.
Clinical Trial Support
Clinical development program management
Flexible clinical monitoring solutions
Resources optimization
Efficient study start-up and site initiation
Patient and site engagement strategies
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory intelligence and operational expertise
Strategic and operational regulatory support
Local and regional regulatory consulting
Product lifecycle management
Preparation and submission of regulatory documentation to health authorities and ECs
Drug Safety &
Data Management
Established safety reporting systems
Standardization of clinical data
Construction and maintenance of databases
Pharmacovigilance solutions aligned with sponsor plans
Uniform data structuring and quality oversight
Medical Writing
Clinical evaluation reports and plans
Clinical research literature reviews
User documentation and labeling
Summaries of safety and clinical performance
Study-related reports and publications support
Project & Trial Management
Customized training and development for site teams
Advanced technologies and real-time data visibility
Continuous enhancement of operational processes
Adaptive governance structures
Local project coordination and investigator
meeting organization
Biostatistics
Statistical analysis plan development
Analysis and reporting including integrated summaries
SE identification and endpoint adjudication support
Interim analyses and safety updates
PK/PD analysis where applicable
Capabilities
in Cell & Gene Therapy
While the majority of ophthalmology trials focus on established medical and surgical interventions, a growing number of programs explore cell and gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases. We bring dedicated operational depth in these highly specialized studies — an area that remains a small but strategically important segment of the overall research landscape.
Our additional capabilities in this domain include:
Site readiness assessment and activation for complex gene therapy protocols
Investigator and surgical team training for subretinal and advanced delivery procedures
Coordination between central surgical hubs and satellite non-surgical centers
Regulatory navigation for innovative and expedited pathways in selected markets
Management of long-term follow-up and extended observation requirements typical of gene therapy trials
Integration of genotype-driven screening and rare-disease referral networks to support efficient patient identification
Operational models that accommodate the unique logistics of advanced therapy administration while preserving the advantages of a regionally integrated platform
This specialized expertise sits on top of our broader ophthalmology research infrastructure, allowing sponsors to expand into cutting-edge programs without losing the benefits of scale, patient access, and operational reliability across Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
Why Partner
With Us
Whether you are running conventional ophthalmic trials or exploring next-generation cell and gene therapies, we provide the regional infrastructure, patient access, and operational reliability needed for successful execution.
Your Regional Partner for Next-Generation Clinical Execution
01
Proven multi-country capability in both conventional and advanced ophthalmic research
02
Access to large, diverse patient populations and established referral ecosystems
03
Experienced regional teams covering the full spectrum of clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and quality oversight
04
Flexible models that support high-volume studies as well as complex rare-disease and gene therapy programs
05
Consistent quality aligned with international standards and meaningful regional cost efficiencies
Bring your next program
into focus
Contact us to discuss how we can support your next ophthalmology clinical program in the MENA region.
Prof. Dr. Serhat Unal, PhD, MD
Global Partnership Manager
Dr. Wissem Ben Azzouz, MD
Francophone Sites Manager
Dr. Tugce Ozmen, PhD
Regional Manager, Türkiye and CEE
Dr. Horia Aly, PhD
Regional Manager, GCC
Dr. Olaa Hassan, Ex.MBA, PharmD
Regional Manager, North Africa