Research News
CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
UNC EYE Research Seminar Series
Meets last Tuesday of each month at 3118 Neuroscience Research Building (NRB) at 12 PM (click map for Google Maps directions from Ambulatory Care Center, across Mason Farm Rd, to NRB). Please contact Matt Hirsch (mhirsch@email.unc.edu) for virtual access.
UNC EYE Research Seminar Series
Meets last Tuesday of each month at 3118 Neuroscience Research Building (NRB) at 12 PM (click map for Google Maps directions from Ambulatory Care Center, across Mason Farm Rd, to NRB). Please contact Matt Hirsch (mhirsch@email.unc.edu) for virtual access.
HEADLINES
Dr. Jackie Bower Named One of 10 Inaugural Oxford-Harrington Scholars Worldwide
UNC Ophthalmology congratulates Research Assistant Professor Jackie Bower, PhD, for being named one of 10 scientists worldwide to the inaugural class of Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (OHC) Scholar Award recipients. Dr. Bower is an established leader of large-scale sponsored studies to identify and develop therapeutic approaches to treating uveal melanoma. Dr. Bower will apply her OHC award funding to support her lab’s study entitled: “Novel viral gene therapy to treat lethal rare eye tumors.” This study advances the aims of her lab’s investigative work in developing therapeutic solutions to treat uveal melanoma.
To read the full article on Dr. Bower’s Oxford-Harrington scholar’s award, click HERE.
CERI Lab Family & Friends Celebrate Friendsgiving 2024!
On Tuesday, November 26th, the Carolina Eye Research Institute (CERI) paused its monthly, last-Tuesday UNC EYE Research Seminar Series and hosted the annual CERI Friendsgiving potluck. We thank Drs. Matt Hirsch, Jackie Bower and other planners of this occasion for bringing together members of UNC Ophthalmology and others across the University’s medical research campus for a wonderful meal!
Farewell to Dr. Yong-Su Kwon!
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In early August, the Han Lab and CERI bid farewell to graduating post-doctoral researcher Dr. Yong-Su Kwon. We congratulate Yong-Su on his accomplishments at UNC and wish him well as he begins a new chapter on faculty at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, South Korea.
PUBLICATIONS
1) Zongchao Han, PhD: Google Scholar
2) Matt Hirsch, PhD: Google Scholar
3) Jacquelyn Bower, PhD: Google Scholar
4) Hua Mei, PhD: Google Scholar
Congratulations to Carolina Eye Research Institute (CERI) faculty leads Research Assistant Professor Jackie Bower, PhD, and Research Associate Professor and study P.I. Matt Hirsch, PhD, for co-authoring a joint NCSU-UNC study accepted for publication in Molecular Therapy. Click HERE to read the full article online (September 7, 2024 issue).
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Congratulations to UNC undergraduate (Class of 2025) and CERI Hirsch lab member Naveen Vridhachalam for receiving the David Bray Peele Undergraduate Award ($500) from the UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, in support of his senior honors thesis project!
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Spring and Summer 2024 have been busy months for UNC Ophthalmology’s Clinical Research team! This spring, the department signed a four-year renewal of its Master Agreement with JAEB Center for Health Research. Our decades-long partnership with this public health-focused nonprofit enables UNC Ophthalmology to participate in multi-center retinal and pediatric clinical trials centrally coordinated by JAEB.
Current Trials
DECLARE
The Glaucoma Drainage Device and Endothelial Cell Loss Compare Trial (DECLARE) is a multi-center, outcome-masked, randomized clinical trial. To compare procedural innovation approaches in minimizing cell loss in the eye, this study assesses effectiveness of glaucoma drainage device implantation in the anterior chamber (front part of the eye) and sulcus (small space between iris and front chamber of the eye).
P.I.: Professor of Ophthalmology UCSF Ying Han, MD, PhD
Co-P.I.s: UNC Assistant Professor Rodolfo Bonatti, MD / Donald Budenz, MD, MPH
Study Period: July 2023 – December 2027
PERFUSE collaborative study
Multi-site consortium of institutions contributing collectively to evaluating effectiveness of visual field technology to assist eye specialists in assessing progression of glaucoma. Data analysis is wrapping up toward meaningful conclusions for this five-year study.
P.I.: Donald Budenz, MD, MPH
Study Period: (2019 – December 2024)
Sydnexis STAR study
A Phase 3 Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Vehicle-Controlled Study to Assess Safety and Efficacy Using Novel Approach to Slow Progression of Myopia (near-sightedness) in Children Using Shelf-Stable Formulation of Atropine (SYD-101 Ophthalmic Solution).
P.I.: Kathy Whitfield, MD
Study Period: (2018 – Summer 2025)
ATS-22 – PEDIG network
This JAEB-supported study is a randomized trial focused on evaluating whether simultaneous treatment with spectacles and patching has an equivalent VA outcome compared with sequential treatment. This multi-institutional study is dedicated to reaching a target population and conclusions will be used to explore new technology to treat amblyopia. innovation of a video viewing treatment device.
P.I.: Kathy Whitfield, MD
Study Period: (2019 – Ongoing)
Industry-Sponsored
Immunovant: IMVT-1401-3201: A Phase 3, Multi-center, Randomized, Quadruple-masked, Placebo-controlled Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of Batoclimab for the Treatment of Active, Moderate to Severe Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) in adult participants.
P.I.: Christopher Hwang, MD
Study Period: (November 2022 – January 2025)
Tourmaline: A Multicenter Phase 2b Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Dose-Ranging Study evaluating effectiveness of TOUR006 application in Participants with Thyroid Eye Disease
Sponsor: Tourmaline Bio, Inc.
P.I.: Daniel Rubinstein, MD
Study Period: (February 2024 – February 2026)
WELCOME NEW CLINICAL RESEARCH STAFF!!
We were introduced to Thomas Rose, UNC Class of 2023, when he toured the UNC Kittner Eye Center to observe operations at an eyecare practice as a model for opening his own NC home community practice one day. Thomas joined the UNC Optical Shop as a volunteer soon thereafter. By end of 2023, Thomas began a second role as Clinical Research Assistant on the department’s School of Medicine Eye Research team. Thomas’ role will soon be combined with a new UNC Health “Pod Coordinator” position designed to support clinical flow during our busiest Glaucoma clinical workflow days at Kittner. The Clinical Research team is so pleased to have Thomas as an enthusiastic, hardworking member of our team!