Dr Alex Spratt is a Canadian-born Assistant Professor who completed his medical training in the U.K. His research career in ophthalmology began at Moorfields Eye Hospital in the U.K. and his career as a clinician-researcher has taken him to the Middle East, South Asia, West Africa and North America. He has held faculty positions at Nova Southeastern University and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the U.S.A. Dr Spratt is a section editor and peer reviewer for several ophthalmology journals and has published his work in The Lancet and other high quality peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr Spratt’s demonstration of the efficacy of bevacizumab in treating neovascular glaucoma and the Aurolab silicone tube in the surgical treatment of glaucoma in Africa reveals his passion for discovering and disseminating ground-breaking, affordable solutions to some of the most difficult problems faced by ophthalmologists worldwide.

Glaucoma

Dr. Stephen G. Odaibo is a Nigerian-born Physician, Mathematician, Computer scientist, Neuroscientist, Physicist, and Retina specialist. He won the 2005 Barrie Hurwitz Award for Excellence in Clinical Neurology at Duke University School of Medicine where he topped the class in Neurology. Dr. Odaibo is a Retina specialist at the Medical Associates Clinic in Dubuque Iowa. He is also Chief Scientist and Founder of Quantum Lucid Research Laboratories, an Independent Computational Research Institute. From 2004 to 2006, Dr. Odaibo was in the lab studying G-protein coupled receptors with Robert J. Lefkowitz, the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. Dr. Odaibo obtained a B.S. in Mathematics (UAB, 2001), M.S. in Mathematics (UAB, 2002), M.S. in Computer Science (Duke, 2009), and Doctor of Medicine--MD (Duke, 2010). Dr. Odaibo completed his Internship in Internal Medicine at Duke University Hospital (Durham) in 2011, his Residency in Ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital (Washington DC) in 2014, and his Fellowship in Medical Retina, Uveitis, and Ocular Oncology at the University of Michigan-Kellogg Eye Center (Ann Arbor) in 2015. He is author of the book, ``Quantum Mechanics and the MRI Machine'' (Symmetry Seed Books, Oct 2012). Dr. Odaibo has received a number of recognitions and awards. He won the 2013 Best Resident Research Presentation Award at the 23rd Annual Washington Retina Symposium, for devising the Sinc wavelet, a mathematical model describing the behavior of motion-processing neurons. In 2012 he was selected as a Featured Alumnus of the Mathematics Department at UAB. In Oct 2011 his cornea paper was selected by MIT Technology Review as one of the best papers from Physics or Computer science submitted to the arXiv. In that paper, Dr. Odaibo provided the first quantitative demonstration of non-paraxial light bending in the human cornea. Dr. Odaibo's research interest is Algebraic Structures, a branch of pure Mathematics. His interest is motivated in part because at the root of any medical or scientific breakthrough is a mathematical discovery or application. In addition, Mathematics is simply the study of physical truth in its purest form, and is a beautiful experience and privilege which he enjoys. Dr. Odaibo's clinical interests are in the diagnosis and Medical/Laser management of retinal disease. The conditions he treats include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, retinal tears, and localized retinal detachments. He enjoys taking care of his patients, and feels truly blessed at the opportunity to provide them compassionate state-of-the-art retina care. He loves his wife Lisa, his son Daniel, his family and friends, and studying the bible in its rich historical context.

Retina, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Physics, and Computing

Chi-Chao Chan earned her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University and ophthalmology residency from Stanford University School of Medicine. She has completed two post-doctoral fellowships: ophthalmic pathology at Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins and clinical ocular immunology at National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Chan is the Chief of Immunopathology Section, Laboratory of Immunology and Head of Histopathology Core, National Eye Institute, the federal government medical research institute in the US. She has published 579 papers in peer-reviewed journals and one textbook. She also serves as an Editorial Board Member for 15 medical journals.

Age-related macular degeneration

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

Professor Ningli Wang is the Director of Beijing Tongren Eye Center and the vice president of Beijing Tongren Hospital, which is one of the two largest eye centers in China and provides a comprehensive and seamless Ophthalmic Service for 30,0000 outpatients and 54,000 surgeries annually. He is also the Director of Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology and the president of School of Ophthalmology, Capital Medical University. Prof. Wang is the President of Chinese Ophthalmology Society and also the President of Beijing Medical Association, Ophthalmology Society. Prof. Wang also serves as the Vice Chairman of Committee of China Medical Doctor Association. Prof. Wang is an active academician in Asian region. He is the Committee of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO), the Committee of Asia-Africa Academy of Ophthalmology and the Executive Committee Member of World Glaucoma Association(WGA). Professor Ningli Wang has done many pioneering research works in Ophthalmology: 1. He proposed the new classification system of primary angle-closure glaucoma based on the mechanism of angle-closure; 2. He proposed the new theories that glaucoma may be caused be the high Trans-Lamina Cribrosa Pressure difference and conduct a series of studies to verify it; 3. He performed the study on the mechanism of glaucomatous posterior retinal neuron damage, and proposed the concept that glaucoma is a disorder of whole visual pathway; 4. He discovered the pathogenesis of exfoliation syndrome in Chinese population is different from that in European and American people, and made the diagnostic criteria of exfoliation syndrome for Chinese people; 5. He designed and spearheaded a number of new ophthalmic technologies, such as non-penetrating trabecular surgery, improved surgical extra-trabeculotomy, Schlemm's forming dilatation, two-phase aqueous drainage implantation and endoscopic implantation in high myopia etc; 6. He introduced the high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy and designed the ophthalmic panoramic ultrasound biomicroscopy with independent intellectual property rights; 7. He performed manufacturing technology and equipment research on implantable and individualized higher-order aberration corrective lens for human eyes by integrating innovation; 8. He organized some large-scale eye disease epidemiology in China - Handan Eye Study and An Yang Children Eye Study.Because of Prof. Wang’s academic accomplishment, he was awarded the second price of National Scientific Progress Award by the State Council in 2013 for his contribution in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG), and won the first price twice in 2011 and in 2012 from Chinese Medical Association. And he was honored by Ministry of Health with Outstanding Contribution Expert Award. He was also honored by Chinese Medical Doctor Association for Medical Doctor Award in 2010. In 2011, Professor Wang received Arthur Lim Award in APAO; and he was also awarded with the Senior Clinician-Scientist by World Glaucoma Congress.

Glaucoma

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

Professor Jimmy Lai graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong in 1983. He joined the Eye unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital in 1984 where he received his basic and higher surgical ophthalmology training. He spent 6 months in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh for his higher surgical training in 1989. He obtained his Fellowship and Master degree in 1990. He obtained the Fellowship of the Academy (Ophthalmology) in 1993 and became the founding fellow of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong in 1995. Professor Lai continued his ophthalmology practice at the Prince of Wales Hospital which was the teaching hospital of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He received his pre-fellowship training in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh and post-fellowship training in the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, and the Aichi University, Nagoya, Japan. He started his involvement in scientific research and publications in the late 90s. His sub-specialty interest is in glaucoma. He is a pioneer in applying argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) to the initial treatment of acute angle closure glaucoma and acute phacomorphic glaucoma. With his work on this area, he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2004. He is also a pioneer in introducing the selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and goniosynechialysis (GSL) to Hong Kong for the treatment of open angle and closed angle glaucoma. Before he joined the Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Hong Kong in 2008, he worked in the United Christian Hospital as a consultant ophthalmologist.

Glaucoma

Mitra received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 1983 from the University of Kansas. Upon graduation he was employed as an Assistant Professor of Biopharmaceutics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for one year. In 1984, he joined Purdue University as an Assistant Professor and later became an Associate Professor of Physical Pharmacy from 1989-1994. That year in 1994, he was accepted as Professor and Chairman of UMKC School of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He received the University of Missouri Curators Professor of Pharmacy Award in 2002. Within two years, he was appointed Co-Director, Kansas City Vision Research Center, UMKC School of Medicine and UMKC Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Research.

Delivery and targeting of antiviral agents and development of noninvasive delivery systems for peptide and protein drugs.

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.

Tara Moore is Director of the Biomedical Research Institute and Group leader for Vision Science research in the School of Biomedical Science at Ulster University. Tara graduated from Queen’s University of Belfast in 1994 and in 1997 with a PhD in Immunology and Virology. Over the past 10 years she has built a team of researchers with the one common goal of improving both diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases of the eye which ultimately can result in blindness. Tara has a successful track record of obtaining grants to fund her research. She is associate editor and reviewer for a number of eye related journals and consistently publishes her research findings in peer-reviewed journals. Tara was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for developing an online PGDip/MSc Cataract Refractive Surgery course for Ophthalmologists and eye care specialists.

Immunology and Virology

Kay Rittenhouse has an extensive career in ophthalmic drug research and development, spanning from drug discovery, translational research, clinical development through launch. She has developed drug targets presented on platforms such as small molecules, aptamers, antibodies, and siRNAs. She is a sought after presenter and chair of scientific conferences and forums and has published abstracts, book chapters, and manuscripts for peer reviewed journals. Her drug development expertise includes indications such as glaucoma, retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and AMD, uveitis, and diseases of the ocular surface. She received a Ph.D. in pharmacokinetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her dissertation research explored the pharmacodynamics of glaucoma drugs and special expertise in ocular microdialysis. She has pharmaceutical industry experience, having worked at Alcon Laboratories, Bausch and Lomb, and Pfizer.

Glaucoma, retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy

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

Dr John Chang was trained in Ophthalmology at Jules Stein Eye Institute UCLA, he then went to USCF and did a fellowship there. Dr Chang is a Past President of the Hong Kong Association of Private Eye Surgeons. He is Honorary Associate Professor of The University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr Chang is presently the Director of the Guy Hugh Chan Refractive Surgery Centre of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital and has been interested in Cataract and Refractive Surgery for many years. He is Clinical Instructor for many refractive intraocular lenses and surgeries including LASIK, Intra Corneal ring, Conductive Keratoplasty and Phakic Intraocular Lens. He is on the Executive Committee of the International Society of Refractive Surgery (AAO) and the Asia Pacific Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Society and is on the Editorial Board of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today and Ocular Surgery News. He has also been awarded the “Certified Educator Award” by the APCRS, “Distinguished Service Award” by the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and “Achievement Award” by the American Academy of ophthalmology. He is chief editor of the Chinese edition of Eurotimes. Dr. Chang is also active in research, publishing and travelling abroad to give lectures as invited speaker in order to share his knowledge and findings.

Cataract and Refractive Surgery, refractive intraocular lenses and surgeries including LASIK, Intra Corneal ring, Conductive Keratoplasty and Phakic Intraocular Lens

Tao Lowe is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at University of Tennessee. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Bioengineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, and Co-Director of the Integrated Graduate Degree Molecular Toxicology Program at Pennsylvania State University. She received her Ph.D. with an Eximia Cum Laude from the University of Helsinki, Finland, and conducted two years postdoctoral research in the Chemical Engineering Department at University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has published more than two dozen papers in reputed journals, and has given more than 150 presentations and 60 invited talks. She has trained ca. 60 students, including PhD, MD, MD/PhD, PharmD, and PharmD/PhD. She is a peer reviewer for more than 30 refereed journals, and serves on the editorial boards of 6 international journals. She has chaired more than 40 sessions at international conferences.

ocular diseases, Drug delivery

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

Qiu is an innovative ophthalmology physician, retinal surgeon, stem cell biologist and ocular transplant specialist by trainings with 19-years global ophthalmic experiences acquiring a broad array of scientific, medical, surgical, translational therapeutics and entrepreneurial experiences, focusing on early stage clinical translation and post marketing medical affairs at the cutting edge scientific forefronts. She held positions with increased importance at BetaStem, Sucampo, Inotek and GSK, and consulted for senior executives to support portfolio and investment decision-making. She published and lectured across the globe (UK, US, China and Japan) and featured at “Scientific America” and National Eye Research Center, UK. She obtained her M.D. (honors) from Nanchang University and PhD from Sun Yat-sen University in collaboration with Sheie Eye Institute, Univ. of Pennsylvania, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at Boston University and Doheny Eye Institute.

Retinal surgery, stem cell biology and ocular transplantation.

Carlota Saldanha has completed her Ph.D. at the age of 39 years from Universidade Nova de Lisboa; Postdoctoral studies from Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL). She has a Master in Medical Education. She is Associate Professor with Habilitation in FMUL and Head of Unit of Microvascular Biology and Inflammation in Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM) of FMUL. She has published more than 80 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member of repute journal.

Microvascular Biology

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.

Retinal detachment surgery, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), posterior segment laser surgery, angiography, OCT, Medical Retina. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and application of intravitreal pharmacotherapy for various edematous and neovascular retinal/macular diseases.

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

Rebecca Sappington earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where she studied mechanisms of ganglion cell death in glaucoma. Rebecca continued her work on neuronal-glial interactions in glaucoma as a postdoctoral fellow at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (2004-2009). In 2009, Rebecca joined the faculty at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, where her laboratory focuses on neuroinflammation in retinal neurodegeneration. Rebecca´s training was supported by institutional training grants from the National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke and the National Eye Institute as well as a postdoctoral fellowship from Fight for Sight. Her work is currently supported by a RO1 from the National Eye Institute and a Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc.

Neuroinflammation in retinal neurodegeneration

Yoko Miura completed M.D. in 1997 and Ph.D. in 2002 from Osaka City University in Japan. Her Clinical training was completed in eye clinic of Osaka City University Hospital and since 2002 a specialist of ophthalmology. In 2005 she started research work in University of Kiel in Germany and in 2009 moved to Institute of Biomedical Optics, University of Luebeck. Now she is engaged in the research and clinical works in Institute of Biomedical Optics and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Luebeck. She is leading some research projects related to retinal cell biology. She is working as adjunct lecturer at Osaka City University since 2010.

Biomedical Optics, Ophthalmology

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

Sayon Roy received his Ph.D. from Boston University and completed his postdoctoral training at Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. He 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.

Diabetic Retinopathy