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Two ocular pathology centers join for biodevice research
The center at the University of Utah will expand its research capacities and become one of the few laboratories to focus on ophthalmic biodevices.
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SALT LAKE CITY – The Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah and the Center for Biodevices Research at the Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina have expanded their re-search capabilities in IOL and biodevice research by combining into one laboratory.
When Randall J. Olson, MD, director of the center, offered David J. Apple, MD, a position as director of his own laboratory, it was an offer Dr. Apple said he could not refuse. For Dr. Apple, this meant moving back to where his research on IOLs began.
“Now that I’m going back, [the laboratory] is going to be expanded and Dr. Olson was kind enough to name the new laboratory [after me]. It’s going to double in size and instead of just doing [IOLs], it’s going to cover all aspects of refractive and cataract surgery, including laser surgery,” Dr. Apple said.
The conjoining of the laboratories has been realized swiftly. They first discussed the idea in June of this year, Dr. Olson said.
“We talked about the future and what we wanted to see long term. It was our combined decision that a single center with the resources launched and available to the John Moran Eye Center would better see this long outlive us and continue to be a premiere research center in this field,” Dr. Olson said.
Reunion for research
Drs. Apple and Olson began a research laboratory solely focusing on IOLs in Utah 20 years ago. In 1988, Dr. Apple left Utah when he was offered chairmanship of the department of ophthalmology of the Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Meanwhile, Dr. Olson and Nick Mamalis, MD, formerly a student in their initial laboratory, continued the IOL research at Utah on a smaller scale.
“I think Dr. Apple thought the way to do it was to continue to expand the IOL work even after he retires and combine it with ours,” Dr. Mamalis said.
The two laboratories have never collaborated until now, Dr. Apple said. In the past, they have worked parallel to each other researching IOL complications from explanted specimens. The new center is called the David J. Apple, MD, Laboratories for Ophthalmic Devices Research, becoming the only place conducting such research. The expanded center is still under construction.
“I think it’s fair to say that we’re the only lab in the world that does this. I think it’s wonderful that we’ve combined it,” Dr. Apple said.
“This is truly bringing us back to what was once one group. We expect our new center to only increase and improve with the new location, new resources and the combination of our expertise in the same field,” Dr. Olson said.
New lab, new focus
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With the fusion of the two laboratories comes a new focus. In addition to IOL complications and design, research will now include other anterior segment surgery as well as experimental surgery. The Miyake-Apple experimental surgery laboratory has been incorporated with the ocular pathology laboratory directed by Dr. Mamalis, Dr. Apple said.
“I think we’ve got a chance to do some really important research not only in IOL but also in all kinds of intraocular biodevices – devices that would be used for cornea, refractive and glaucoma surgery,” Dr. Mamalis said. “I think we have a real chance in our center to cover all areas of ophthalmology.”
In the area of biodevices, Dr. Apple said the laboratory will focus on studying the effectiveness of various biomaterials, as well as continuing studies on explants and the pathology of cadaver eyes.
He said biodevices are the latest focus of the center’s research, but it will continue researching IOL complications as in the past. Unfortunately, there are few ocular pathology laboratories left, mainly due to lack of funding and short-sighted administrations, he said.
“The biggest thrusts now are biodevices, [but] there’s less funding available. In other words, it’s drying up, and as my colleagues retire, there are fewer [laboratories] left,” he said.
Another reason for the move, he said, is the sophisticated facilities that the area offers. The University of Utah is well respected in the field of bioengineering, which Dr. Apple thought would be conducive to his fellowship program, the Apple Korps Team.
“It will give ophthalmologists as well as companies that are coming up with ideas for treating ocular problems a place where the research can be done,” Dr. Mamalis said.
Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, one of Dr. Apple’s former fellows, and Suresh K. Pandey, MD, and Andrea M. Izak, MD, two current fellows, have been in Utah since the move was completed in early September and are part of the research team. Dr. Werner is the director of research, and Drs. Pandey and Izak are instructors. Alan S. Crandall, MD, also was instrumental in the merger.
Dr. Werner said they will be working closely with Dr. Mamalis, continuing their work in analyzing explanted IOLs for deposits suspected of causing complications.
As part of Dr. Apple’s agreement with Dr. Olson, he will work from Charleston as a consultant for the next 2 years as he continues to recover from throat cancer and to complete his biography of Sir Harold Ridley, the inventor of the IOL. Currently, he said he has gathered all the information necessary for the biography and expects to finish writing the book in the next 9 months.
Moving right along
Dr. Apple said he believes his research in Charleston is complete. In a letter to colleagues, he mentioned his involvement in the expansion of the South Carolina Lions Eye Research Center, as well as his role as department chair. He worked with the Lions Club International Foundation in raising funds for the center.
When asked if there was anything unusual about moving 18,000 cadaver eyes and specimens across the country, he said it was just like any other move.
For Your Information:
- David J. Apple, MD, can be reached at 2902 Brownell Ave., Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482; (843) 883-5661; fax: (843) 883-0182; e-mail: djapple@comcast.net. Dr. Apple, John A. Moran Presidential Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology designante,
- Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, and Suresh K. Pandey, MD, can be reached at John A. Moran Eye Center, 5th floor, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132; (801) 581-8136; fax: (801) 581-3357; e-mail: liliana.wernerl@hsc.utah.edu; suresh.pandey@hsc.utah.edu.
- Randall J. Olson, MD, can be reached at 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132; (801) 581-2352; fax: (801) 581-3357; e-mail: randall.olson@hsc.utah.edu.
- Nick Mamalis, MD, can be reached at the University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology, 50 North Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84132; (801) 581-6586; fax: (801) 581-3357; e-mail: nick.mamalis@hsc.utah.edu.