DMEI secures $800K for cutting-edge eye research, training
Summary
OKLAHOMA CITY New computerized eye simulators, a precise laser injector and a device to measure the electrical resistance of cells were on the holiday shopping list for the academic and research teams at the Dean McGee Eye Institute.They received $800,000 in grants from two Oklahoma organizations, the Inasmuch Foundation and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The surgical simulator has the look and feel of a real eye, and it can be programmed with several vision-related conditions to train residents on how to perform various microsurgical techniques used in cataract surgeries.The direct ophthalmoscope simulator is used to train medical students and non-ophthalmologist physicians to recognize the most relevant ocular pathologies to either help entice these students to become ophthalmologists, or for primary care physicians, to give them the skills to identify ophthalmic disease at an earlier stage.The Inasmuch grant is significant for Oklahoma as it allows DMEI to improve and expand the ophthalmic workforce, said Dr. R. Michael Siatkowski, CEO of Dean McGee Eye Institute and Chair of the OU Department of Ophthalmology.Oklahoma, as with other states, has a shortage of ophthalmologists. These simulators help us attract top-quality medical students and residents to our profession and give us cutting-edge technology to prepare the next generation of ophthalmologists to bring Oklahomans the highest quality of care.The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation based in Ardmore recently granted DMEI $50,000 to purchase new equipment to enhance researchers ability to more efficiently study the health and function of retinal cells in the eye to combat the devastating effects of retinal degenerative diseases. Globally, an estimated 200 million people suffer from RDDs, such as age-related macular degeneration that slowly robs them of their vision and can severely affect their quality of life.The grant money will be used to purchase a highly sensitive laser injector and a device to measure cell electrical resistance for monitoring cell barriers, which together allow researchers to better understand the process of vision loss at the cellular and tissue level.It is especially gratifying to receive grants from such prestigious Oklahoma institutions as the Inasmuch and Noble foundations, continued Siatkowski. DMEI is committed to preparing the next generation of ophthalmologists and finding new treatments or cures for blinding diseases as we care for our fellow Oklahomans.