Short Term Training in Health Professional Schools The long-term objectives of the proposed short-term training program are: 1) to inspire commitment to research careers in vision science among optometry students, including women and underrepresented groups, and 2) to foster a better understanding of vision research.
The specific aim i s to increase the number of clinician scientists who can do basic, clinical and translational investigative work on vision disorders through early exposure to research. The program has operated successfully since 1985. More than 350 optometry students have trained, including 30 students from underrepresented minority groups in the past decade, and 36 students overall from 10 optometry schools other than the University of Houston. The program provides opportunities for academically qualified and motivated students to spend 3 months learning to formulate testable vision-research questions and to develop research skills by doing a research project mentored by 1 of 20 experienced vision scientists. The mentors' research programs fall into the following broad areas: 1) visual development, plasticity, repair and aging; 2) visual optics and refractive error, 3) ocular surface 3) oculomotor systems; 4) structure and function in normal and diseased eyes and visual pathways; 5) visual cell and molecular biology 6) spatio-temporal vision, 8) binocular vision. 15 optometry students will be recruited during each of the next 5 years for NEI fellowships, another 2 or more supported by local funds for the program. Selection will be based on scholarship, particularly in sciences, as well as on research interest, potential, and experience. Trainees will generally be 1st - yr optometry students. In addition to research, trainees will participate in: 1) a 2-hr course on responsible conduct of research, research design, and methodology and communication of findings 2) a 1-hr weekly seminar given by local and visiting vision scientists, and 3) lab meetings and journal clubs. Trainees will have access to first-rate facilities and resources: 23,500 sq ft of well-equipped basic and clinical/translational research space, a full scope of technical services (bio-imaging, research computer programming, instrumentation, biostatistics), animal vivarium, and a vision science library with full electronic access - all in a modern buildings on a major university campus.
The proposed short term training program for optometry students will improve visual health by increasing the number of clinician scientists doing basic, clinical and translational research on vision disorders. The program encourages participation by underrepresented groups in vision care and science.
| Abbott, Kaleb S; Queener, Hope M; Ostrin, Lisa A (2018) The ipRGC-Driven Pupil Response with Light Exposure, Refractive Error, and Sleep. Optom Vis Sci 95:323-331 |
| Lentsch, Matthew J; Marsack, Jason D; Anderson, Heather A (2018) Objective measurement of spectacle wear with a temperature sensor data logger. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 38:37-47 |
| Patel, Nimesh; McAllister, Faith; Pardon, Laura et al. (2018) The effects of graded intraocular pressure challenge on the optic nerve head. Exp Eye Res 169:79-90 |
| Burfield, Hannah J; Patel, Nimesh B; Ostrin, Lisa A (2018) Ocular Biometric Diurnal Rhythms in Emmetropic and Myopic Adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 59:5176-5187 |
| Ostrin, Lisa A; Sajjadi, Auzita; Benoit, Julia S (2018) Objectively Measured Light Exposure During School and Summer in Children. Optom Vis Sci 95:332-342 |
| McAllister, Faith; Harwerth, Ronald; Patel, Nimesh (2018) Assessing the True Intraocular Pressure in the Non-human Primate. Optom Vis Sci 95:113-119 |
| Huang, Juan; Lentsch, Matthew J; Marsack, Jason D et al. (2018) Evaluating the use of a temperature sensor to monitor spectacle compliance in warm versus cold climates. Clin Exp Optom : |
| Saenz, Roberto; Cheng, Han; Prager, Thomas C et al. (2017) Use of A-scan Ultrasound and Optical Coherence Tomography to Differentiate Papilledema From Pseudopapilledema. Optom Vis Sci 94:1081-1089 |
| Beach, Krista M; Wang, Jianbo; Otteson, Deborah C (2017) Regulation of Stem Cell Properties of Müller Glia by JAK/STAT and MAPK Signaling in the Mammalian Retina. Stem Cells Int 2017:1610691 |
| Moore, Kelly E; Benoit, Julia S; Berntsen, David A (2017) Spherical Soft Contact Lens Designs and Peripheral Defocus in Myopic Eyes. Optom Vis Sci 94:370-379 |
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