9^th Global Ophthalmology Summit

Sandeep Jain is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Cornea Service, Director at Corneal Neurobiology Laboratory and Director at Dry Eye Service and also Editorial Board Member at Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences; Ocular Surface. His research focuses on the molecular and cellular aspects of corneal nerve regeneration, which may lead to new therapies for blinding corneal diseases. His research is funded by the National Eye Institute K08 and R01 awards. Currently, he is initiating clinical trials on treatment for dry eye. He has been named one of America’s Best Doctors since 2007 and has received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Achievement Award. Sandeep Jain joined the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2006. He is board certified in ophthalmology.

Sandeep Jain research focuses on the molecular and cellular aspects of corneal nerve regeneration, which may lead to new therapies for blinding corneal diseases. His research is funded by the National Eye Institute K08 and R01 awards. Currently, he is initiating clinical trials on treatment for dry eye.

Soledad Cortina is an attending physician in the Cornea Service and Director of the Comprehensive Ophthalmology Faculty Practice, the General Eye Clinic and the Keratoprosthesis Artificial Cornea Program within the Cornea Service. She conducts basic science investigations into the regeneration of corneal nerves following corneal and refractive surgery. She is fluent in Spanish, joined the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2010 and is board certified in ophthalmology.

Soledad Cortina conducts basic science investigations into the regeneration of corneal nerves following corneal and refractive surgery.

Daniel Valverde prsently working as Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Guayaquil.Being Specialist in Retina Medicinal – OcularNutrition - Low Vision – Pediatric Vision - Public Health - Community Development Projects in Public Health.

Faculty of Medical Sciences
University of Guayaquil
Ecuador

Igor Nasonkin is a Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Charles & Louella Snyder Retinal Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, and the Assistant Director, the Louis J. Fox Centre for Vision Restoration of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre and University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Developmental Biology at Pitt. Igor Nasonkin educational background includes receiving a BSc degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (secondary major: molecular genetics) at St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia. He then attended the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, where he earned his MSc degree in Biochemistry (Mentor: Robert Molday, PhD). Following that, he obtained his PhD in Human Genetics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Mentor: Sally A. Camper, PhD).

Igor Nasonkinb current interest is to drive human ES cells further towards neural lineage, and into specialized neuronal type (retinal cells), with further transplantation into retina, and studying potential alleviation of blindness in several genetic models of retinopathy.

Dr. Racette is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute at Indiana University’s School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN), and an adjunct professor at Indiana University’s School of Optometry (Bloomington, IN). After receiving her Ph.D. from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), Dr. Racette joined the University of California at San Diego (San Diego, CA) where she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Hamilton Glaucoma Center.

Director
Visual Function Laboratory
Glick Eye Institute
Indiana University
USA

Serena Wang joined the U.T. Southwestern faculty in November 2006, following a successful private practice in Dallas and Plano for the previous two years. Serena Wang has trained extensively at UT Southwestern, completing her ophthalmology internship and residency, as well as her pediatric ophthalmology and corneal and external disease fellowships, here. She also has a strong research background in pediatric ophthalmology, especially in the treatment of pediatric cataracts. She completed a research fellowship at the Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina in 1995. Passionate in her care of pediatric ophthalmic patients, Serena Wang is known for her caring approach. She specializes in the treatment of pediatric eye diseases with a special focus on pediatric cataracts and adult strabismus. She is currently seeing patients at Childrens Medical Center at Legacy, and Childrens Medical Center Dallas.

Serena Wang has a strong research background in pediatric ophthalmology, especially in the treatment of pediatric cataracts.

Janardan Kumar holds a Ph.D. degree in chemistry under kind supervision of Dr. C. M. Gupta, ex-director, CDRI, Lucknow, India. In the United States, first he received postdoctoral training on motor proteins in the laboratory of Michael P. Sheetz, a lasker award winner, at Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina. He published his work on kinectin, a myocilin like protein, in Science (1995), and an abnormality in myocilin has been predicted to be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.Prior to coming to Becker College, while a research assistant professor at Tufts University, Kumar engineered a new real time perfusion system used for the discovery of drugs to treat glaucoma. Presently, Kumar is chair of the natural sciences department, and is actively engaged in the advancement of course curriculum in microbiology, chemistry, and developing the biotechnology/biology major at Becker College.

glaucoma, microbiology and chemistry

Jacob Lorenzo-Morales completed his PhD in the University of La Laguna in 2001 and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Edinburgh until December 2011 when he was granted a Ramón y Cajal Tenure Track Fellowship by the Spanish Government. His work has been focused in Free-Living Amoebae infections mainly Acanthamoeba keratitis. He has published more than 60 papers in reputed journals in the parasitology and tropical medicine fields. He has been the Scientific Secretary in the last two editions of the International free-living amoebae meetings (FLAM 2009 and 2011), invited speaker at the symposium of free-living amoebae of the International Congress of Parasitology 2014. In November 2013 he was awarded the Individual Award for Young Canary Islands Citizens by the Canary Islands Government in recognition to his research career.

Contact lens, Ocular diseases

Ingrid Kreissig is currently a Professor at Department of Ophthalmology Univ. Mannheim-Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. She is also serving as Adjunct Professor at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York. Her specialization includes, Posterior Segment of the Eye: St. Gall/Switzerland, Bonn/Germany, and New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center/USA. During 1979-2000, she has been the Chairman of Univ. Tuebingen/Germany. She has published more than 404 papers, those are been published in national and international journals of ophthalmology, basically on topics such as surgery of retinal detachment with long-term follow-up of anatomic and functional results, cryopexy histology, tumors, AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and intravitreal pharmacotherapy. She has also published many books.

AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and intravitreal pharmacotherapy.

Luiz Guilherme, is graduated in Medicine from the University of Grande Rio - RJ- Brazil, He did his Ophthalmology residency at the Hospital de Olhos Santa Luzia / Santa Luzia Foundation (Recife - PE - Brazil). He did his fellowship in Retina and Vitreous by Federal University of Goias, after graduating from the Federal University of Goias. He is a member of the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO), Brazilian Society of Retina and Vitreous, International Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists also he posses the membership of Scientific reviewer of the Brazilian Archives of Ophthalmology, the Expert Board and Scientific reviewer of the International Journal of Ophthalmology. He contributes as author of scientific publications and chapters books of ophthalmology, he is serving as a professor of the Ophthalmology Residency at the Hospital de Olhos Santa Luzia.

Retina

Miguel Rechichi has completed his training in ophthalmology at 28 and his PhD at 32 from Magna Graecia University and Diploma of Specialist Superior in Ophthalmology from University of Lugano (Switzerland). He’s actually a researcher for Magna Graecia University and Director of corneal and refractive Surgery service of S.Lucia Eye Clinic, Cosenza, Italy. He was a pioneer of crosslinking clinical application and actually is involved in developing new accelerated cxl protocols for which he’s invited as opinion leader to several meetings. He has published several papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of reputed Journals.

Optical Coherence Tomography, Cornea

Sarah Zhang is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Biochemistry, and Neuroscience at School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York. She is a faculty member at the SUNY Eye Institute and Graduate School at SUNY Buffalo. Sarah Zhang is a well-established clinician-scientist and vision researcher and has published over 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, reviews and book chapters. Her laboratory studies disease mechanisms and ER stress signaling in diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucomatous retinopathy. Dr. Zhang has served on Editorial boards for 7 professional journals and on NIH and international grant review panels.

Diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucomatous retinopathy

Yoko Miura has completed her M.D. in 1997 and Ph.D. in 2002 from Osaka City University in Japan. Clinical training was completed in eye clinic of Osaka City University Hospital and since 2002 a specialist of ophthalmology. In 2005 started research work in University of Kiel in Germany and in 2009 moved to Institute of Biomedical Optics, University of Luebeck. Today engages in the research and clinical works in Institute of Biomedical Optics and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Luebeck. Leading some research projects related to retinal cell biology. Since 2010 adjunct lecturer of Osaka City University.

Biomedical Optics

S. Patricia Becerra received a Doctorate degree (Major in Biochemistry) from the University of Navarra, Spain. Her postdoctoral training was in biochemistry at the National Cancer Institute, and in molecular virology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD. Becerra is head of the Section of Protein Structure and Function, Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, NIH. She is an author of more than 70 peer-reviewed articles, reviews and book chapters. She serves as an editorial board member and reviewer of several journals in biochemistry, molecular biology and ophthalmology.

Protein Structure and Function

Bruce Gaynes holds doctorate degrees in both pharmacy and optometry as well as a graduate degree in pharmacology from the Indiana University Medical Sciences Program. He holds a joint appointment at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Hines, IL and Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, Maywood, IL.

Ophthalmic drug delivery

Kip M Connor is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. He received his Ph.D. degree from Albany Medical College in 2005. Dr. Connor did his post-graduate work at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, where he also obtained his first faculty position from 2005 to 2010. In 2010 Dr. Connor joined MEEIs Howe and Angiogenesis Laboratories at MEEI. Connors current research focuses on the role of immunity and inflammation using animal models of ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinopathies (diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity), auto-immune uveitis, retinal detachment and retinal degenerations.

Alireza Ziaei, M.D. is a recipient of numerous awards and grants including National Excellent Researchers Award and the Science Excellence Prize in Iran. Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School, as a Research Scientist, he performs Basic Science Research at Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. Ziaei’s interest and current research focus is on corneal and ocular surface diseases and his seminal work has been recognized several times. He published and presented numerous articles in highly ranked peer–reviewed journals and conferences. Ziaei has participated as a scientific and organizing committee of several International meetings and presented at numerous international meetings, including a number of invited presentations. Ziaei is member of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), International Society for Eye Research (ISER), Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS). He is serving as an Executive Editor and Editorial Board member of reputed journals and scientific societies. Ziaei serves as a Reviewer of various scientific journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology (AJO), British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO), the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, International Journal of Ophthalmic Pathology (IJOP) and the Journal of Cell Biology: Research & Therapy (CBRT).

Corneal and ocular surface diseases, mainly on the pathogenesis of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Iva Dekaris has completed her medical studies at the age of 24, PhD at 30, became Associate Professor at the age of 35 and Professor at 40. Her postdoctoral studies were both at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA) and at the Ruđer Boskovic research Institute in Zagreb (Croatia). She became ophthalmic-specialist in 1999 and subspecialized in corneal and cataract surgery. From 2010 she is a President of the European Eye Bank Association (EEBA) and Medical Director of the University Eye Hospital Svjetlost. She has published 42 papers in CC journals and over 250 abstracts.

Corneal transplantation, cataract and refractive surgery,and basic and clinical medical integration in the field of corneal transplantation and anterior eye segment surgery

Marco Attilio Eugenio Zarbin, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S. received a B.A. (biochemistry) from Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, with highest distinction) in 1978. He matriculated to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1978 and entered their Medical Scientist Training Program in 1980. Zarbin was awarded degrees in medicine (M.D.) and pharmacology (Ph.D.) in 1984 and graduated from the Hopkins Medical School as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1985-1988. As a resident, Zarbin was the co-recipient of the Francis S. Schwentker Award for resident research. Zarbin completed fellowships in vitreoretinal surgery and in medical retinal disease at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute as a Head Ophthalmic Foundation Fellow and was an Assistant Chief of Service at Wilmer in 1989. He received certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology in November 1989. From 1990-1993, Zarbin served as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco and as Chief of the division of Ophthalmology at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco. He was named co-director of the retinal service at UCSF in 6/93. Zarbin was appointed Chair of the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, New Jersey Medical School and Chief of Ophthalmology at University Hospital in Newark, N.J. in January 1994. He is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience at the New Jersey Medical School and holds the Alfonse A. Cinotti, MD/Lions Eye Research Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology. Zarbin is the Editor-in-Chief of Translational Vision Science and Technology and has served an Associate Editor of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science and as a member of the Editorial Board of Survey of Ophthalmology. Zarbin is a Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Zarbin is an ex officio member of: 1) the board of Governors of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology, and 2) the National Advisory Eye Council of the National Institutes of Health. In addition, he is a member of the American Ophthalmological Society, the Retina Society, the Macula Society, and the Vitreous Society. Zarbin is a Past President of the Board of Trustees of the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) and has served as the alternate AUPO representative to the Council of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In the past Zarbin served as a member of the Preferred Practice Pattern Committee (Retina Panel) of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Chair of the Program Planning Committee of the American Ophthalmological Society, Chair of the Retinal Cell Biology Program Planning Committee of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and Chair of the Professional Development and Education Committee of ARVO. Zarbin also has served as a member of the Visual Sciences C Study Section, Division of Research/Grants

Retinal cell transplantation

Ayman A. Alkawas has completed his MBBCh at the age of 23 years old from Zagazig University, Egypt. He completed his Master Degree of Ophthalmology from the same university in 1994. He completed his retina fellowship in 1998 in Michigan, USA with Associated Retinal Consultants at Beaumont hospital and Oakland University. He completed his Doctorate Degree of Ophthalmology in 1999 in Zagazig Univesristy. He is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology at Zagazig University, Egypt. He published more than 23 papers in reputed local and International journals and acted as reviewer for 5 International journals. He is an Editorial Board Member of one of the reputed journals.

Posterior segment and anterior segment fields (medical and surgical)

Timothy Duong was the winner of the ISMRM Rabi’s Young Investigator Award (1998), a NSF predoctoral fellowship (1994-1998), and a recipient of a NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellowship (1999-2001) during postdoc training at the Center of Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota. Duong is the Stanley I Glickman Professor of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Physiology, MRI Division Chief, Assistant Director of Research of the Research Imaging Institute. Duong is a recipient of the VA Career Development Award (2007-2009) and the Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association (2009-2014).

Speckle and optical imaging

Susumu Ishida undertook his residency in ophthalmology at Keio University Hospital after completing his medical degree at the age of 24 years. He completed fellowships in the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School, and received a PhD from Keio University on the subject of vascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic retinopathy. Ishida is an author on over 150 scientific publications (impact factor: over 450) and currently Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology at Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine in Sapporo, Japan.

The roles of VEGF in age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy

Lisa Christian graduated from Queen\\\'s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1999, and earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2003. Following graduation, she completed a residency at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry in Paediatrics and Binocular Vision. Christian is currently a Clinical Lecturer and Interim Associate Director for Clinical Programs at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science. She is also Head of the Binocular Vision Clinic. Christian is the faculty liaison for the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and has been a Committee member for the College of Optometrists in Ontario since 2006.

Optometry

Sayon Roy received his PhD from Boston University and completed his postdoctoral training at Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. Roy is currently a professor of Medicine, Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, and a professor of Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine. Recognized as an expert in retinal vascular biology, Roy’s seminal work has identified several genes in the retina that are abnormally expressed in diabetic retinopathy. His pioneering work has led to novel gene modulatory techniques in retinal vascular cells using antisense oligonucleotides via intravitreal injection. Roy has received numerous awards including the American Diabetes Association Research Award for the commitment and dedication towards the fight against diabetes, the 2006 Mentor of the Year Award from Boston University, and the 2008 Innovative Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Research in Roy’s laboratory has been funded by several organizations including the National Eye Institute, NIH, National Medical Technology Testbed, American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Fight for Sight, Research to Prevent Blindness, and the Lions Organization. Roy currently serves as a chartered member of the NEI Study Section of the National Institutes of Health.

Vascular basement membrane thickening is a prominent and characteristic lesion of diabetic retinopathy. We have hypothesized that excess synthesis of basement membrane components occurring in diabetes is a critical pathogenetic event in the development of vascular basement membrane thickening and complications of diabetic retinopathy. Having shown that the mRNA level of basement membrane components fibronectin and collagen IV are increased in diabetic retinas, our laboratory plans to reduce the synthesis of these basement membrane components by using antisense oligonucleotides, a powerful molecular biological tool that offers a unique opportunity to down regulate specific gene expression.

Yoko Ozawa M.D., Ph.D. works as a chief of the Medical Retina Division (Age-related macular disease; AMD division) and also a vitreoretinal surgeon, as well as a Lab chief of the Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology (RCB lab). Her main research interest is the neuroprotection and oxidative stress in the retinal diseases, such as AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and diabetic retinopathy.

AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and diabetic retinopathy.