Research Opportunities
Research Opportunities
Fellows have the opportunity to gain exposure to clinical trials, basic science research, translational research. Fellows are encouraged to participate in research during their fellowship. There is no specific research requirement. UCLA is a collaborative environment, and fellows often find eager collaborators from within the eye institute as well as from other departments.
Milestones in Retina
UCLA Stein Eye Institute has a storied history in the field of retina. From basic science research to vitreoretinal surgical techniques and cutting edge therapies for blinding illness, faculty at UCLA have contributed to many advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of vitreoretinal conditions.
UCLA faculty have been heavily involved in the following milestones:
- Elucidation of the visual cycle and photoreceptor biology (Prof. Dean Bok)
- Retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (Dr. Allan Kreiger and Dr. Steven Schwartz)
- Development of surgical instrumentation: Wide angle viewing systems, curved laser probes, silicone oil, PFL (Dr. Allan Kregier, Dr. Steven Schwartz, and Dr. Jean-Pierre Hubschman)
- Development of the RetCam (Dr. Steven Schwartz)
- Development of the Optos camera (Dr. Steven Schwartz)
- First published in-human intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF for diabetes and macular degeneration (Dr. Steven Schwartz)
- First published safety studies of subretinally transplanted RPE derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. (Dr. Steven Schwartz)
- Silicone oil tamponade for attenuation of radiation in the treatment of ocular melanoma (Dr. Tara McCannel)
Clinical Research Center
The Clinical Research Center (CRC) helps to coordinate many clinical trials in which the fellows are often participate as sub investigators. The CRC supports industry sponsored trials, NEI/NIH funded trials, as well as faculty/fellow led trials. The CRC provides staff statisticians, research coordinators, and aids in the completion of IRBs on behalf of the faculty and fellows. As a result, fellows are able to design, implement, and publish their own studies.
Active clinical trials include but are not limited to:
- Dry AMD: Anti complement studies
- Dry AMD: RPE transplantation
- Wet AMD: Port delivery systems
- Wet AMD: Real world outcomes
- Retinal Vein Occlusion: SCORE
- Diabetes: DRCR.net
- Mac Tel: CNTF trials
- ROP: Development of retinovascular anatomy in neonates via OCTA
- Imaging: Macular anatomy via OCT and adaptive optics
- Imaging: Development of peripheral OCT
- Imaging: Doheny Image Reading Center
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Dr. Tsui’s research focuses on the intersection of retina and maternal fetal medicine which is a unique and under-explored area of research. She became interested in this topic early in her career while treating pediatric retina patients with surgical issues and genetic conditions.
Since 2019, with funding from a National Eye Institute R21 grant, Dr. Tsui has been enrolling pregnant subjects in a prospective clinical study using non-invasive OCTA. The short-term goal of the study is to develop normative data for retinal changes that occur during the course of a healthy pregnancy. If you know anybody with early pregnancy (<16 weeks gestational age) who is interested in volunteering, please contact her.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is another area of research that Dr. Tsui is passionate about. As Chief of the ROP service for 10 years, she has focused on the role of social determinants of health, neonatal OCT, and visual outcomes after ROP treatment in the UCLA Multi-Center ROP Study. Dr. Tsui’s collaborators include Dr. Monica Khitri (Pediatric Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye, Harbor Medical Center) and Dr. Alison Chu (Dept of Pediatrics). Dr. Tsui and Dr. Chu also study ROP and diabetic retinopathy in laboratory mouse models with the collaboration of Dr. Madhuri Wadehra (Pathology and Laboratory Medicine).
Relevant Links:
Robotic Surgery
The Advanced Robotic Eye Surgery Laboratory (ARES) led by Dr. Aya Barzelay continues to develop ground-breaking technology for the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary group of scientists and engineers from various UCLA departments, the ARES is developing a tool kit for both robot-assisted ophthalmic surgery and automated robotic ophthalmic surgery.
Relevant Links:
https://eyetube.net/meeting-coverage/las-vegas-2017-apr/robotic-surgery-what-s-next–hsjog
https://www.uclahealth.org/eye/center-for-advanced-robotic-eye-surgery
Stem Cells
UCLA researchers led by Dr. Aya Barzelay completed the first-in-human safety studies of subretinally transplanted RPE cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. This work has been nationally recognized by a $5.1 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and serves as the basis for ongoing NIH-funded investigation.
Relevant Links:
https://stemcell.ucla.edu/news/ucla-researchers-begin-first-stem-cell-trials-treat-eye-diseases
We look forward to meeting you!
Contact information:
Debbie Sato
Academic Programs Administrator
100 Stein Plaza, Rm 2-132
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-4617