Vision Research Coordinating Center

The Retina and Uveitis Clinical Research Program is led by Shree Kurup, MD and co-investigator, Warren Sobol, MD. The UH Eye Institute and CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has long been part of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Trials Network of studies which are funded by the National Eye Institute and managed by the Jaeb Center for Health Research. The DRCR.net studies evaluate treatment and management options for diabetic retinopathy but also other retina and vitreous conditions. The Retina and Uveitis Clinical Research Program is also actively involved in industry-sponsored studies evaluating macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis.

The Glaucoma Clinical Research Program is led by Douglas Rhee, MD and is supported by co-investigators Edward Burney, MD, Shakeel Shareef, MD, and Yasmin Sozeri, MD. Dr. Rhee leads multiple sponsored trials in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, sustained release biodegradable pharmacological implants, and novel glaucoma topical drops. Our investigators also participate in federally sponsored and investigator initiated projects pertaining to genetics of glaucoma susceptibility, minimally invasive glaucoma implants, and aqueous outflow studies.

The Cornea Clinical Research Program is led by Ahmed Omar, MD and supported by co-investigators Jonathan Lass, MD and Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, OD, PhD. The Cornea Service at the UH Eye Institute and CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has a long established record of excellence and involvement in corneal transplant trials under previous directorship of Dr. Lass. In that regard, the UH Eye Institute was a clinical site for the National Eye Institute (NEI) sponsored Cornea Donor Study (CDS) and Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS), with the CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences participating as the Cornea Image Analysis Reading Center (CIARC) for the Specular Microscopy Ancillary Study (SMAS) of the CDS and led the CPTS as the Chair’s Office, Coordinating Center, and the CIARC. The UH Eye Institute additionally has also been involved in NEI-sponsored studies of dry eye (Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) Study), the Zoster Eye Disease Study (ZEDS), and genetics of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Finally, the Service was a major enroller in the landmark NEI-sponsored Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study (CLEK) that conducted a comprehensive study of the natural history of the disease and factors contributing to progression. The Cornea Service continues its efforts in excellence in corneal transplantation research by participating in new trials surrounding novel methods of lamellar corneal transplantation and Descemet stripping without endothelial keratoplasty (DWEK).

The Contact Lens Clinical Research Program is led by Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, OD, PhD and supported by co-investigators Thomas Stokkermans, OD, PhD, Stacy Schonberg, OD, and Sara Hitchman, OD. Dr. Szczotka-Flynn has a successful history of leading industry sponsored trials of new contact lens designs and NEI/foundation sponsored research on contact lens related complications. Leadership in performance and recruitment as a site stems from excellent relationships with contact lens industry sponsors, and University Hospitals and CWRU local communities. Significant advancements in the field of contact lens related complications have been made by Dr. Szczotka-Flynn and this team while collaborating with UH and CWRU experts in clinical microbiology (Michael Jacobs, MD, PhD, biofilms and microbiome (Mahmoud Ghannoum, MD), and genetics (Sudha Iyengar, PhD).

The Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinical Research Program is led by Faruk Örge, MD and co-investigators Hayley Klein, MD, and Adam Pieffer, OD, MS. The UH Eye Institute and CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has long been part of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) of studies which are funded by the National Eye Institute and managed by the Jaeb Center for Health Research. The PEDIG studies evaluate treatment and management options for amblyopia, strabismus, convergence insufficiency and other pediatric eye conditions. This group has also been actively involved in sponsored studies evaluating pediatric aphakia and cataract surgery, ocular imaging, and retinopathy of prematurity.