Retina Research
We want to bring in new, world-leading retina specialists to the Fox Center for Vision Restoration. Though we have some great programs with macular degeneration and glaucoma, we want to truly expand upon the opportunities we have already in the field of ophthalmology. By bringing in new minds for retina research, we bring new ideas, and new inspirations.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Dr. Carey Balaban is working on exciting new research in brain trauma caused by explosions. With an eye towards soldiers returning from combat zones, Dr. Balaban is determined to design a new explosion blast chamber in order to study animal models of brain trauma, and the apply them in a new clinical setting in order to apply knowledge gained from the animal models to patients suffering traumatic brain injuries.

Sensory Substitution Advancements
As you may already know, the brainport is an incredible new device that helps those affected with blindness or loss of vision with a new sense, through their tongue, that helps them gain a basic environmental awareness. The device, however groundbreaking it is, as it stands, is in much need for improvement. Our next projects with it include making the device wireless, to increase ease and acceptability by patients, transforming it into a Intra-oral cavity device (similar to a retainer) in order to ease subject use of it while also talking to eating, and to design a new set of established program protocols to teach patients how to use the device, much like training them to use a cane or seeing eye dog. This training program would involve use of the internet as a means of communicating remotely, so subjects could, essentially, learn in the safety and comfort of their own homes.

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Dr. Karl Kandler leads the auditory research team, which is committed to investigating the changes the auditory system goes through during development and while affected with hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory conditions. A major unresolved question that Dr. Kandler has dedicated himself to answering is how the high structural and functional precision that is present in the healthy mature auditory system is achieved during development. Insight into the development of auditory system is especially helpful and important in understanding where developmental disorders rooted in auditory dysfunction originate from. Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos, part of Dr. Kandler’s team, is using similar methods to map the pathology of tinnitus. Working on understanding the mechanisms that underlie the development of tinnitus, Dr. Tzounopoulos is currently employing the use of electrophysiological, imaging, and behavioral approaches to developing solutions for tinnitus symptoms, hoping to discover a change in neural plasticity, which will help identify changes that can cause signs and symptoms of diseases like tinnitus. Since tinnitus has no effective treatment, and science has a very rudimentary understanding of what even causes it, more support is always needed in the pursuit of more answers.

Guerilla Eye Service
Dr. Evan Waxman is working on a project to provide free eye care screenings to the underserved populations of south western Pennsylvania. In order to see as many patients as possible, Dr. Waxman as employed the use of digital retinal cameras. These cameras are largely independent functioning machines that take pictures of the back of a patient’s eye, and send the image to Dr. Waxman to review remotely. Simply from that image, Dr. Waxman can diagnose a number of conditions within the eye – most notably, diabetic retinopathy, which can blind a person if left untreated. Already, we have funding available for five cameras, two of which have already been installed to great success. Our goal, however, is twenty cameras, and we are always looking for more support to help our underserved populations.

Balance Disorders
Dr. Joseph Furman’s research focuses on human festibular function and balance disorders. Balance is typically recognized as originating from the inner ear and vestibular system. However, with condition like Meniere ’s disease, the vestibular system can be affected and a sufferer can experience loss of balance and vertigo, among other equally difficult symptoms. Our research has helped develop a virtual reality enclosure to simulate everyday activities for patients. Often simulating an environment of a grocery store, researchers can identify the specific balance issues of patients as they try to go about normal activities. Other uses of new technology include The Gaze Stability Test and Computerized Head Thrust Testing. Ultimately our goal is to help with the rehabilitation of people with inner ear disorders.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes a build-up of pressure in the eye, damaging in the optic nerve and eventually causes blindness. Though there is no cure for glaucoma, and the cause of it still remains mostly a mystery to researchers, we do know that the lack of cells in a drainage system in the eye called the tribecular meshwork is related to the apparent build-up of pressure. Dr. Yiqin Du has begun looking into the use of stem cells from the tribecular meshwork, utilizing Dr. James Funderburgh’s technique for extracting stem cells, to help the drainage system repair itself, ultimately preventing the main symptoms of glaucoma. The lab for glaucoma research is a brand new center, seeded by a large anonymous donation, until Dr. Du can apply for federal funding.

Head/Neck Cancer
Dr. Jennifer Grandis has started a new project with Dr. Ann Marie Egloff as a result of her recent discovery of the genetic make up of the tumors that cause head/neck cancer. Having undertaken a new examination of Head Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), the research team discovered a family of genes called “Notch,” occurring relatively frequently. These Notch pathways, if identified in a patient suffering HNSCC, can help designate more effective ways to treat. As of now, Dr. Grandis and Dr. Egloff are working on new ways to continue their research into this condition and the implications of different genetic markers in the cancerous tumors.

Macular Degeneration
Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD), is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the center of the retina in the eye. Eventually, this condition causes bleeding under the eye, and blindness if left untreated. The most effective form of treatment in use is the injection of a drug solution directly in the eye once a month. Scientists and researchers, however, are working on a much more effective treatment. By combining the drug treatment with a gel substance that can then be injected into the eye, the treatments stay in the eye much longer, reducing the amount of injections a patient must receive. Though only in the initial testing stages, ophthalmologists are very excited about the positive results already seen.

Robotic Surgery
The DaVinci robot is the first FDA approved surgical robot in the world. Dr. Uma Duvvuri, in addition to a team of engineers from Carnegie Mellon University, are in the process of designing and creating the next generation of the DaVinci robot – a new robot, much more advanced and much more effective. Dr. Bob Ferris, in collaboration with Dr. Duvvuri, is working to bring in a robotics fellow to assist with cross-disciplinary developments. Ultimately, the team is looking for a way to develop a brand new collaborative research center with both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, creating a world-class robotic medicine project.

The Campbell Laboratory
Interested in research in immunological conditions of the eye, including herpes simplex virus and shingles, as well as conjunctivitis, and other eye infections. Led by Regis Kowalski, Dr. Y Jerold Gordon, Dr. Frances Mah, and Dr. Eric Romanowski, and in conjunction with research from Dr. Kip Kinchington and Dr. Robert Hendricks, the Campbell Lab is dedicated to offering complete diagnostic services for the detection of microorganisms which provoke eye diseases, monitoring emerging antibiotic resistance among bacteria responsible for eye diseases, and acting as a knowledge bank for ophthalmologists.

The Skull Base Procedure
The Department of Otolaryngology is recognized as one of the leading skull base centers in the world. Dr. Carl Snyderman is the co-Director of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery and internationally renowned as a leader in the endoscopic endonasal approach – a minimally invasive approach to surgery in the cranial base. The Skull Base Surgery team is a cross-disciplinary team that focuses on the care of patients with tumors nose, sinuses, pituitary, and the base of the skull. The Skull base procedure gives surgeons the ability to reach tumors that were previously very difficult to reach due to their location in critical areas of the brain, skull, and spine. Dr. Snyderman and his team are now working on developing and perfecting aspects of the procedure as well as integrating it with robotics technology.

Research in the Cornea
Dr. James Funderburgh and his team have recently made a breakthrough discovery of stem cells in the cornea. In animal models, Dr. Funderburgh has added the stem cells into damaged corneas, and found that in a short amount of time, the damaged corneas healed to the point where they became almost indistinguishable from undamaged corneas. This discovery has opened doors to countless new advances in ophthalmologic care, leading to possibilities for new treatments never before thought possible.

The Voice Center
The Voice Center is dedicated to the prevention of injury to and the rehabilitation of patients with voice conditions and is determined to provide cutting edge research in order to remain established as a leader in the field of evaluation and care of voice disorders. Dr. Clark Rosen is the Director of the Voice Center and specializes in the care of performing voice, as well as the treatment and research of voice disorders. The Voice Center, as part of its efforts to treat voice disorders, balances a combination of behavioral, medical, and surgical approaches to care.