Therapeutic Areas

Ophthalmology

Center Overview

National Ophthalmic Research Institute is a physician-owned clinical research center specializing in innovative investigational treatments for ophthalmic, retinal and vitreous diseases. The Institute is based in the Ft. Myers offices of Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida, PA, which has satellite offices in Pt. Charlotte, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs and Naples, Florida.

The physician specialists associated with the Institute have a prestigious history of active participation with leading academic research institutions such as Harvard Medical School's affiliated Schepens Eye Research Institute (SERI). They understand that good research begins with the trained Investigator who must demonstrate the necessary clinical training and knowledge base to protect human subjects, provide excellent patient care, personally supervise site conduct, and collect accurate scientific data.

The mission of National Ophthalmic Research Institute is to provide patients in Southwest Florida access to ophthalmic drugs and devices in clinical development that may improve their vision and quality of life. National Ophthalmic Research Institute accomplishes this mission with a commitment to ethical patient selection and retention and superior study conduct in accordance with Good Clinical Practice.

National Ophthalmic Research Institute provides investigator and site services for Phase II, III and IV clinical drug studies and eye-related clinical device research. The Institute can work with either central, or one of several local Institutional Review Boards.

Clinical Research Experience

The senior physicians affiliated with National Ophthalmic Research Institute have been involved in clinical research for more than 20 years, and have experience in conducting trials for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, new diagnostic, surgical and laser techniques, rehabilitation of low-vision patients, and other diseases of the eye.

All of the physician investigators have current training in Good Clinical Practice.

Facility Description

National Ophthalmic Research Institute is located in Ft. Myers, Florida, one of the fastest growing geographical areas in the nation. Our facility is fully equipped for most diagnostic and therapeutic retina and vitreous procedures. The Institute is equipped with a dedicated research office, patient exam rooms, pretest/history rooms, secure record rooms, adequate study supply storage, locked medication storage and a medication refrigerator. The patient laboratory houses a centrifuge and a minus 20 degree specimen freezer, with access to a minus 70 degree specimen freezer as needed. If needed, the center also has computerized Remote Data Entry (RDE) capability.

Our facility is fully equipped for most diagnostic and therapeutic retina and vitreous procedures. National Ophthalmic Research Institute has access to the region’s largest collection of specialized state-of-the-art ophthalmic diagnostic equipment including: updated imaging and electrophysiology systemsOther state-of-the-art clinical equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of retina and vitreous disease includes the following:

• HeidlebergSpectralis (multiple systems)
• Topcon camera with Imagenet Software (multiple systems)
• Zeiss Cirrus OCT
• Visual perimetry testing (multiple Humphrey perimeters)
• Fundus and anterior segment photography laboratory (multiple systems)
• Visual field testing laboratory
• Cryopexy equipment
• Ocular Photodynamic Therapy (PDT, Visudyne)
• Ellex I3 Ultrasound (UMB, Axial Length, Diagnostic A-Scan and B-Scan units)
• Electrophysiology Testing including Visually Evoked Potential (VEP) testing, Electro-Oculogram (EOG) testing, and Electroretinogram (ERG) testing
• Keratopathy (K readings) testing
• Multiple Laser Systems
• Contrast sensitivity testing, brightness acuity testing, and color vision testing equipment
• Haag-Streit slit lamp and Zeiss slit lamp testing

National Ophthalmic Research Institute also has the ability to conduct inpatient drug and device studies at several area hospitals.

Investigator Experience

National Ophthalmic Research Institute’s team of experienced investigators is well-known in Southwest Florida for expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of retina and vitreous disease. They see over 100 new patients of all ages per week, and have a computerized patient database of more than 60,000 patients with eye disease. Since Southwest Florida is a popular retirement area, there is an excellent patient population with age-related eye disease, such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

As evidenced by their continued link with academic research and medical education, they possess a strong commitment to clinical research and the advancement of scientific knowledge for vision problems.

Curriculum Vitae of any of the following physicians are available by request, or you may view additional information about our physician investigators at www.eye.md.

• Joseph P. Walker, MD, FACS
  American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellowship in Vitro-Retinal Diseases and Surgery
  Adjunct Assistant Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Glenn L. Wing, MD, FACS
  American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellowship in Vitro-Retinal Diseases and Surgery
  Adjunct Associate Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Paul A. Raskauskas, MD, FACS
  American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellowship in Vitro-Retinal Diseases and Surgery
  Adjunct Assistant Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Tom Ghuman, MD, FACS
  American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellowship in Vitro-Retinal Diseases and Surgery
  Adjunct Assistant Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Ashish G. Sharma, MD, FACS
  American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellowship in Vitro-Retinal Diseases and Surgery
  Adjunct Assistant Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
• Donald C. Fletcher, MD
  Fellowships in Retina Vitreous and Low Vision Rehabilitation
  California Pacific Medical Center, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  Adjunct Associate Clinical Scientist, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Staff Expertise

In addition to a large professional and ancillary support staff, the dedicated clinical research staff of the National Ophthalmic Research Institute includes:

• Cheryl Kiesel, CDOS, ROUB, COA
  Cheryl is our Research Director. She has current certifications with Photography and OCT Reading Centers as a clinical trials photographer. She is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer, Registered Ophthalmic Ultrasound Biometristand Certified Ophthalmic Assistant. She is a full-time coordinator with more than 15 years of research trial experienceand more than 20 years in the retinal and vitreous field.
• Cheryl Ryan, CCRC, COA, OSA
  Cheryl is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, Certified Ophthalmic Assistant and Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant. She has over 16 years in the retinal and vitreous field and 10 years in the research setting.
• Crystal Peters, Clinical Research Coordinator
  Crystal is a full-time Clinical Research Coordinator with over 19 years in the retina fieldand six years in the research setting.
• Eileen Knips, RN, CCRC, CRA, COA
  Eileen is the Institute’s part-time Clinical Research Coordinator. She is a Registered Nurse, Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, and a Certified Retinal Angiographer. She has more than 27 years of experience in the retina and vitreous setting and 15 plus years in the research setting.
• Natalie Crawford, CRC
  Natalie is a full-time Clinical Research Coordinator with a degree in medical sciences. She is working toward Certification with ACRP. Natalie specializes in patient visits and recruitment.
• Caryl Alar, Research Assistant
  Caryl handles data management and assists the coordinators in patient recruitment. She has been with the company for 14 years and in the research setting for over 10 years.

The staff maintains current training in Good Clinical Practice, and current certifications in IATA requirements.

Patient Demographics

National Ophthalmic Research Institute draws a diverse patient population from the surrounding five-county area, and the physician investigators have established strong referral ties to many local ophthalmologists, optometrists and family physicians in these surrounding counties. Our population is in excess of 800,000 persons, and swells to over one million during our seasonal winter months. We conduct research with individuals from all ethnic backgrounds and all walks of life. We have the ability to easily pull a computerized patient database listed by diagnosis or other criteria.

Our investigators understand the importance of timely patient recruitment and retention. We plan our recruitment strategies well in advance of study start-up and monitor them frequently during the course of enrollment, in order to adhere to our Sponsor’s expectations for patient accrual.

Other Information

We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about our experience, investigators, staff and research facility. For more information, please contact us at:

Phone: (239) 938-1284
Fax: (239) 938-1270
or via E-mail:
Cheryl Kiesel, Research Director at Cheryl@eye.md
or
Glenn L. Wing, MD, Medical Director, National Ophthalmic Research Institute at glwnori@eye.md

Contact Center

If you are interested in contacting this center to discuss placing a clinical trial there, please complete and send the email form below. A representative from the research center will then follow up with you.