Education / Residency Information / Research Opportunities
All residents are encouraged to pursue projects in laboratory or clinical investigation. Research familiarizes the resident with the limitations of laboratory methodology, provides a background for evaluating the literature, helps to develop critical thinking, and allows for a better informed choice for career goals. The type of project is the choice of the resident, and a wide range of opportunities is available. There is an annual Rosenbaum Research Award of $1,000 presented to the resident who performs the most exciting research. The department emphasizes basic science research as well as clinical research. Basic science research currently involves the five principal areas shown in the table below. There are many opportunties for research in clinical areas as well.
| Neurobiology | |
Neurobiology of the vertabrate retina |
Peter D. Lukasiewicz, PhD. |
Development of the visual brain and eye alignment |
R. Lawrence Tychsen, M.D. |
Development of the visual brain and ampblyopia |
Susan M Culican, M.D., PhD. |
| Immunology | |
Cellular and molecular regulation of the ocular immune response |
Thomas A. Ferguson, Ph.D. |
Immunocytology of corneal allograft rejection |
Anthony J. Lubniewski, M.D. |
Mechanisms of corneal allograft and response; mechanisms of microbial-lymphocyto interactions |
Patrick M. Stuart, Ph.D. |
| Molecular Biology | |
Latency, pathogenesis and molecular genetics of neurotropic herpes viruses |
David A Leib, Ph.D. |
Molecular and cellular biology of anterior segement development and aging; mechanisms of cataract formation and hereditary glaucoma |
David C. Beebe, Ph.D. |
Tumorigenesis and regulation of cell growth |
William J. Harbour, M.D. |
Molecular genetics of cataract and refractive disorders |
Alan Shiels, Ph.D. |
Molecular mechanisms of lens epithelia functions and the biology of cataracts |
Usha P. Andley, Ph.D. |
Molecular risk factor in diabetic eye disease |
J. Mark Petrash, Ph.D. |
Lens cell biology and ocular gene therapy |
Steven Bassnett, Ph.D. |
Molecular basis of retinal specific gene expression and hereditary retinal degenerations |
Shiming Chen, Ph.D. |
| Pharmacology/Physiology | |
Aqueous humor dynamics |
Bernard Becker, M.D. |
Non-enzymatic glycosylation in diabetes |
Nathan Ravi, M.D., Ph.D. |
Lens cell biology |
Steven Bassnett, Ph.D. |
Roles of receptors for inhibitory and excitatory amino acids in the retina |
Peter D. Lukasiewicz, Ph.D. |
Complications of AMD prevention trial (CAPT) |
M. Gilbert Grand, M.D. |
Vitrase study for enzymatic resolution of vitreous hemmorrage |
M. Gilbert Grand, M.D. |
Choroidal blood flow |
Daniel P. Joseph, M.D., Ph.D. |