News from our Full Member Wilmer Eye Institute – Johns Hopkins Medicine
A Clear Focus
“The thing about glaucoma is you don’t feel worse. You don’t feel anything,” says patient Patricia Caulfield, who experienced significant vision loss as a result of the disease. Now stable following the care she received at Wilmer, Caulfield is pursuing a lifelong love of art and creating awareness about glaucoma.
Zeroing in on Who Will Develop Severe Glaucoma — and Why
While some patients’ glaucoma remains stable over time with treatment, others’ progresses to severe disease and vision loss. Now, a research collaboration between Wilmer and the Johns Hopkins University Department of Mechanical Engineering is aimed at understanding why. We spoke with Harry Quigley, M.D., the A. Edward Maumenee Professor of Ophthalmology, to learn more.
Liu, Consortium Highlighted
Alvin Liu, M.D., director of the Wilmer Precision Ophthalmology Center of Excellence, was featured in an article in Fundamentals about a new NIH consortium aimed at generating ethically sourced, AI-ready data sets. He and Megan Collins, M.D., M.P.H., the Allan and Claire Jensen Professor of Ophthalmology, are co-leaders of the AI-READI consortium’s ethics section.
Wilmer Hosts World Association of Eye Hospitals Annual Meeting
In the spotlight
From Oct. 4-7, Wilmer Eye Institute hosted the World Association of Eye Hospitals Annual Meeting. The association represents ophthalmic centers of excellence from over 55 countries and meets annually to present research and foster collaboration on eye hospital management, research, education and patient care. Wilmer administrator Cathy Kowalewski, pictured above,is chair of WAEH.
Johnson Becomes Inaugural Shelley and Allan Holt Rising Professor of Ophthalmology
On Nov. 2, Thomas V. Johnson III, M.D., Ph.D. was celebrated as the inaugural recipient of the Shelley and Allan Holt Rising Professorship in Ophthalmology. A dedication ceremony was held at the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Building. Speakers and dignitaries included Wilmer Director Peter J. McDonnell, M.D., the William Holland Wilmer Professor Ophthalmology and director of Wilmer Eye Institute; Harry Quigley, M.D., the A. Edward Maumenee Professor of Ophthalmology; and Landon King, M.D., Executive Vice Dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the Smith atrium.
(From left to right) Landon King, M.D.; Allan and Shelley Holt; Thomas V. Johnson III, M.D., Ph.D.; Trustee Charles P. Scheeler, Esq.; and Peter J. McDonnell, M.D.
Vision for Baltimore Celebrates 10,000 Pairs of Eyeglasses for Baltimore Students
On Nov. 1, Vision for Baltimore distributed its 10,000th pair of eyeglasses to Baltimore City Public Schools students during a ceremony in the East Baltimore school’s library. The program provides vision screenings, eye exams and eyeglasses to students.
Wilmer pediatric ophthalmologist Megan Collins, M.D., M.P.H., the Allan and Claire Jensen Professor of Ophthalmology (right), leads Johns Hopkins involvement in the program, a partnership between Wilmer Eye Institute, the Center for Research and Reform in Education at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, Baltimore City Public Schools, the Baltimore City Health Department, direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand Warby Parker and national nonprofit Vision To Learn.
Collins is pictured with (from left to right) Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Public School System CEO Sonja B. Santelises, Baltimore health commissioner Letitia Dzirasa and Johns Hopkins University president Ronald J. Daniels.
Research News
Akpek Explores Relationship Between Treatments for Glaucoma and Ocular Surface Disease
Esen Akpek, M.D., the Bendann Family Professor of Ophthalmology, and colleagues reviewed what is known about the relationship between glaucoma and ocular surface disease in terms of the effects of treatment for one on the other. The results were published in Clinical Ophthalmology.
Blackshaw and Colleagues Establish Proof-of-Concept for Novel Gene Therapy Delivery
A team of researchers, including Seth Blackshaw, Ph.D.; Mandeep Singh, M.B.B.S., M.D., Ph.D., the Andreas Dracopoulos Professor of Ophthalmology; and Fatemeh Rajaii, M.D., Ph.D., the Odd Fellows Rising Professor of Ophthalmology, successfully used a cell’s natural process for making proteins to “slide” genetic instructions into a cell and produce critical proteins missing from those cells. The work may represent a new method for targeting specific cell types for a variety of disorders, including some forms of blindness. The results were published in Nature Communications.
Handa Team IDs Therapeutic Target for Early AMD
A team led by James Handa, M.D., Division Chief of Retina and the Robert Bond Welch, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology, elucidated the role of an understudied aspect of the RPE cell signaling network in age-related macular degeneration, offering potential therapy for early AMD—a stage without treatment. The work was published in Autophagy.
Awards and Honors
Five From Wilmer Named “Top Doctors”
Five Wilmer faculty members have been recognized by Baltimore magazine as “Top Doctors” of 2022: Kraig Bower, M.D.; Yassine Daoud, M.D.; Laura Di Meglio, O.D.; Bryce St. Clair, O.D.; and Fasika Woreta, M.D., M.P.H., the Eugene de Juan, M.D. Professor of Ophthalmic Education.
Johnson Named to “40 Ophthalmologists Under 40” List
Thomas V. Johnson III, M.D., Ph.D., the Shelley and Allan Holt Rising Professor of Ophthalmology, has been named to the list of “40 Ophthalmologists Under 40 to Know” by Ophthalmology Management.
Wilmer-Columbia Wins “Best of Howard” 2022
Congratulations to Wilmer-Columbia on being named “Best of Howard” 2022. Results of the annual ‘Best of’ readers poll are featured in Howard Magazine and The Howard County Times.
Wilmer Faculty to Serve on Editorial Board of Cornea Open
Divya Srikumaran, M.D. will serve as associate editor, and Irene Kuo, M.D., Uri Soiberman, M.D., and Samuel Chi-Hung Yiu, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. will serve on the editorial board of a new journal, Cornea Open. Srikumaran was recently selected to join the board of the Cornea Society, which sponsors the journal.
Announcements
Wilmer Clinician-Scientist K12 Program Seeking Candidates
Are you a fellow or faculty member in any ophthalmology subspecialty interested in mentored training, with faculty-level pay? The Wilmer Eye Institute’s renowned Clinician-Scientist K12 Program has an available slot for suitable candidates.
Click here for more information.
Upcoming Events
Virtual Grand Rounds
Join Wilmer for virtual Grand Rounds, Thursday mornings from 7:30am – 8:30am. CME credit is available for Johns Hopkins affiliates. Click here to join these upcoming sessions:
· Nov. 10. Uveitis
· Nov. 17. Pediatrics
· Dec. 1. Current Concepts
· Dec. 8. Cornea
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Date: November 18th 2022