Research Funded

CEBF funded wet labs, training physicians on new processing techniques

While breakthroughs are being made every day, there is always more work to be done. Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, University Hospitals Eye Institute, and Akron Children’s Hospital Vision Center work diligently for a future world without blindness.

Watch CEBF’s Virtual Vision Research Symposium for recent research findings at Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, University Hospitals Eye Institute, and Akron Children’s Hospital Vision Center.

Published by PLOS One Journal.
Research conducted by Dr. Douglas Rhee, Professor and Chairman, Case Western Reserve University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences & Director, University Hospitals Eye Institute.
“Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) knockout mice have greater outflow facility”

Published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Research conducted by Dr. Daniel Martin, Chair, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute & Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
“Effect of Intravitreous Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor vs Sham Treatment for Prevention of Vision-Threatening Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy: The Protocol W Randomized Clinical Trial.”

Published by Elsevier.
Research conducted by Dr. Jonathan Lass, CEBF Board Member & Charles I. Thomas Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Case Western Reserve University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University Hospitals Eye Institute.
“Acute corneal edema decades after penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus in eyes wearing scleral contact lenses”
The Cornea Image Atlas was published as open access and is available to eye banks and surgeons throughout the world to advance their ability to evaluate the corneal donor tissue and improve donor tissue quality. Research led by Dr. Jonathan Lass with 36 participating clinical sites including over 50 corneal surgeons and 23 participating eye banks.
The Cornea Preservation Time Study was the first of its kind to study whether a cornea transplant surgery using donor corneas preserved beyond 8 days may be as successful as a surgery using donor corneas preserved less than 8 days.

Published by PLOS One Journal.
Research conducted by Dr. Brian Perkins, Associate Staff, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.
“Primary cilia are present on endothelial cells of the hyaloid vasculature but are not required for the development of the blood-retinal barrier“

Published by BBA – Biomembranes Journal.
Research conducted by Dr. Paul Park, Associate Professor in Dept. of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals.
“Differential adaptations in rod outer segment disc membranes in different models of congenital stationary night blindness“

Published by Ophthalmology Times.
Research conducted by Dr. Richard Hertle, Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and The Children’s Vision Center, Akron Children’s Hospital.
“It takes a village to beat visual system diseases in children“

Published by British Journal of Pharmacology.
Research conducted by Dr. Irina Pikuleva, Professor and Vice Chair for Research in Dept. of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
“2‐Hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin reduces retinal cholesterol in wild type and Cyp27a1 ^‐/‐Cyp46a1 ^‐/‐mice with deficiency in the oxysterol production”

Past researchers funded:

K.P. Connie Tam, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Award
Dr. Tam investigates whether antibacterial eye drops can help prevent or reduce the severity of the disease caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major bacterial pathogen, which can lead to serious eye infections. The implications of this project may lead to better optimization of the use of keratin antimicrobial eye drops, resulting in novel anti-infective therapeutics for combating infections of the cornea and other sites.

Padmanabhan Paranji Pattabiraman, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Pattabiraman researches primary open-angle glaucoma. He investigates the composition of material deposits using a combination of two techniques which will lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of the material’s formation.

Sudha K. Iyengar, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Iyengar aims to change the paradigm for the classification of Fuch’s endorthelial corneal dystrophy and assist eye banks in selecting the best tissue for cornea transplants. Her goal is to identify biomarkers that will help doctors understand why some individuals are more at risk for the disease.