phd in ophthalmology

PhD Program

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences partners with the Neurobiology of Disease (NOD) track in the Neuroscience Graduate Program to offer an opportunity to earn a post-residency PhD degree. This option would be open to individuals who aspire to careers in basic/translational vision research

To establish a training venue within the Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) for medically trained personnel that will emphasize research in basic biomedical mechanisms that contribute to the etiology and expression of diseases of the nervous system.

The unique PhD-training venue shall be a track within the NGP that specializes, either by content or approach, in research related to disease processes and will be focused on providing training to MD-degreed advanced trainees, such as residents and fellows. MD-PhD pre-doctoral students and conventional graduate students may also take advantage of course offerings in the track.

Policies of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) specify that tracks within programs may be highly specialized or unique so long as the core course requirements (or equivalents to them) of the parent program are utilized and that doctoral trainees in such tracks meet requirements for admission to candidacy and writing and defending a doctoral dissertation. The NOD track meets these criteria and has been approved by the NGP Curriculum Committee and the faculty of the NGP, by the GSBS Curriculum and Executive Committees, by the GSBS faculty, by the Dean of the GSBS, and by the Academic council of Deans.

• Rationale It is believed that there is a cadre of post-graduate MD-degreed house staff who have the qualifications, experience and desire to pursue the Ph.D. degree in addition to their clinical training, in order to develop the skills required to pursue a career in basic biomedical research related to diseases of the nervous system. Individuals who acquire this additional research training will be better prepared to contribute successfully to the academic enterprise and translational research. Such a training program will also be accessible to junior faculty in clinical departments or to MD-PhD students who wish to focus on disease-related research questions. It is anticipated that postgraduate clinical trainees primarily in the following departments or divisions might have interest in such a program: Anesthesiology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Pathology, Psychiatry, and Radiology. Because of their position in their career development, it is anticipated that such MD-degreed trainees will be attracted to a program that has minimal time requirements, maximal laboratory exposure, and significant relevance to one or more neurological or psychiatric disorders.
• Curriculum Since postgraduate MD trainees entering this program will have already been exposed to a full medical school curriculum as well as specialized clinical experience, it is not anticipated that they will need exposure to most of the coursework currently in place for conventional graduate students in the NGP, including courses in the Basic Biomedical Sciences Curriculum (BBSC) and program-specific courses in the NGP. However, because modern medical school curricula tend to underemphasize basic science details and research exposure, and because it is likely that most of these trainees have had minimal experience with state-of-the art research techniques in molecular biology, genetics, electrophysiology, and other methodologies relevant to modern research, it is advisable that certain courses be developed to assist these trainees in acquiring the skills and background necessary to utilize these technologies and understand their relevance. A new core course for this track that provides a broad overview of the basic science underpinnings of most common neurologic diseases is under development (see below). Basic information can also be acquired through participation in the NGP seminar program and in existing (and new) journal clubs that focus on various diseases, systems or problems in neuroscience. Methods and techniques can be acquired through laboratory experience and via several "methods courses" offered in various graduate programs. Developing an appropriate didactic curriculum that requires minimal time but significant transfer of information will be a key element for such a new track. To meet requirements for the establishment of a track, justification must be developed for eliminating currently required courses of the NGP as requirements for these trainees and for substituting new courses for existing ones. The trainees will be required to pass a written qualifying examination and to defend their dissertation proposal and dissertation under current program and graduate school policies. The membership of the Supervisory Committee may be modified so as to incorporate participation by clinical researchers or disease experts.
• An appropriate application procedure for trainees for this track has been established and approved by the GSBS and the University Registrar.
• The NGP will establish a separate Admissions Subcommittee for consideration of applicants to the track; the program's regular Admissions Committee will review subcommittee actions and make final acceptance recommendations to the program.
• Although the track will be under the broader umbrella of the NGP and its governance, there will be a Track Director for direct oversight of this track. Dr. Volker Neugebauer has agreed to take this position.
• The track may organize its own steering committee or equivalent governing body of faculty comprised of both basic and clinical scientists whose research and interests are closely aligned with the goals of the track. Such a committee will assist the Track Director and bring recommendations for changes or improvements in the track.

The following are potential sources of revenue for the support of trainees in the Neurobiology of Disease Track:

• individual fellowships (most likely the F30 award) from NIH (K-type NIH awards appear not to be appropriate), or
• an institutional NIH training grant (T32); these can be used to support M.D. postgraduates to do a PhD-degree;
• funds from the parent clinical department of the trainee;
• scholarship or stipend awards from private foundations (local and national, e.g. Dana awards); and
• NIH or equivalent federal research grants (such as R01s, PPGs, etc.), especially appropriate when a student is mainly involved in laboratory research.

Stipends for trainees in this track will be larger than those currently in place for conventional graduate students; otherwise, the reduction in income (to move from house staff salary to graduate student stipend, currently about $23,000 per year) will be too great a deterrent. Many of the NIH-based stipends are relatively low for this type of trainee (around $21,000) and will almost certainly need to be supplemented by clinical department funds or institutional funds (e.g., President's office, Office of Research, the graduate school, or others). Detailed exploration of NIH funding opportunities for these trainees should be carried out with appropriate program officers of various neuroscience-related NIH institutes, whose individual policies on eligibility and award type vary. NIH RFA's have recently been announced that appear to support training of this type, for example: Training in Translational Research in Neurobiology of Disease (T32):  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-06-008.html .

Following below are:

• Description of issues regarding tuition and visa status for clinical trainees enrolled in the NOD track,
• Description of admission requirements and procedures for the NOD track,
• Discussion and outline of curricular requirements for the NOD track, and
• Brief overview of the new Neurobiology of Disease core course.

ISSUES REGARDING VISA STATUS AND TUITION FOR CLINICAL RESIDENTS ENROLLING IN THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE (NOD) TRACK OF THE NEUROSCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM

Clinical trainees (interns/residents/fellows) who are Texas residents for tuition purposes will enroll in the graduate school for the NOD track at the in-state tuition rate.

Clinical trainees who are U.S. citizens but NOT Texas residents (for example, an American citizen from California) will be required to pay out-of-state tuition rates for graduate work unless the student is eligible for a waiver of non-resident fees (see http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/pdf/0183.pdf ).

Clinical trainees who are foreign nationals (non-U.S. citizens) may enter for residency training and graduate work with an H-1B visa. International trainees must remain under the medical resident/fellow title or be in violation of their H-1B visa status; that is, international trainees cannot be given the job title of "graduate assistant."

Foreign clinical trainees will likely be best served by using the H-1B visa, as it permits the establishment of residency for tuition purposes after the first year. A new international trainee on an H-1B visa could register for courses in the first year, but would pay tuition at the out-of-state rate, unless the H-1B visa holder has already established Texas residency for tuition purposes before transferring to the UTMB clinical residency program.

At the current time, in-state tuition and fees total approximately $110 per credit-hour; out-of-state tuition and fees approximately $350 per credit hour. NOD students may expect to take from 9-27 credit-hours per year after the first year, depending on their level of progression in the track.

It should also be noted that immigration rules and Texas law may change at any time. Thus, it is not possible to guarantee that the information provided above will remain constant or unchanged. For foreign nationals especially, frequent interactions with the International Affairs Office are advised.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE TRACK OF NEUROSCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAM

The following are requirements for admission into the Neurobiology of Disease Track in the Neuroscience Graduate Program of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UTMB:

• Applicants must hold the MD degree from a regionally accredited United States or international medical school and have been accepted into a post-graduate residency training program under the auspices of a clinical department at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
• Applicants must submit the following documentation for consideration for admission: A. A completed Application for Admission to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (with appropriate application fee: $60 for U.S. citizens, $85 for international applicants). Applications for Admission may be completed electronically on-line at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences . Hard copies of the application form may be obtained from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and when completed, sent to the Enrollment Services Office of UTMB, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1305. B. All undergraduate transcripts.* The graduate school requires a minimal overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), unless waived. C. Medical school transcript(s).* D. All graduate school transcripts.* E. Report of MCAT score and board scores for the USMLE parts I and II* F. Three letters of reference, one being from the chairman of the department in which the residency is being pursued* G. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for non-U.S. citizen applicants, unless waived by the Graduate School.* The graduate school requires a minimal TOEFL test score of 550 (for paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 6.5 on the IELTS academic test. H. GRE scores* are required for all applicants who have graduated from medical schools outside the United States and who have not taken the MCAT; customarily this will apply to graduates of foreign medical schools. Although not required of graduates of U.S. medical schools, the GRE scores can enhance the application to the NOD track. *Items 2B-H must be official copies (i.e., sent directly to the Enrollment Services Office of UTMB from the school/institution, testing service or referee). In some cases the graduate school may accept copies of such documents from the applicant’s UTMB residency program if the documents were received directly from the institution, testing service or referee(s) and are accompanied by a letter from the residency program director or departmental chair certifying their authenticity; but the University Registrar may require original official documents before an applicant matriculates.
• Previous research experience is highly desirable.
• Curriculum of NOD Track Curriculum requirements for students in the Neurobiology of Disease (NOD) track must be the same or equivalent to those for graduate students in the parent Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP), including MD-PhD students, and should assure that adequate in-depth basic science and research training is provided such that graduates from the NOD track could reasonably be expected to perform independent basic or clinical research in a field of neuroscience. Since the "students" who would enter this track are MD-degreed physicians engaged in postgraduate (residency) training at UTMB, it is apparent that they have had exposure to a complete curriculum in an accredited American undergraduate medical school (or equivalent), and may be considered to be in relative advanced standing compared to conventional graduate students or MD-PhD students. Thus, certain of the curricular requirements for NOD matriculants will be different than requirements for conventional graduate students and MD-PhD students.

GSBS/BBSC (Generally required for all regular neuroscience graduate students, waived for MD-PhD students, except for Ethics of Scientific Research):

Biochemistry - 4 credit-hours  Cell Biology - 4 credit-hours  Molecular Biol./Genetics - 4 credit-hours

Seminar (attendance only) - 2 credit hours  Biostatistics/Expmntl Design - 1 credit hour  Ethics of Scientific Research - 1 credit-hour (absolutely mandatory)

Elective modules - total of 5 credit-hours (usually 3 mini-courses)

Neuroscience-recommended modules - 2 credit-hours  Excitability & Synaptic Transmission - 2 credit-hours  Principles of Drug Action, Pharmacokinetics - 2 credit-hours  CNS Sensory-Motor Integration - 4 terms' worth  Lab Rotations

Systems Neuroscience (4 credit-hours), taken by conventional graduate students, OR, as an equivalent, Neuroscience and Human Behavior (5 credit-hours), the medical school course (used by MD-PhD students); remaining requirements apply to regular graduate students and MD-PhDs.

Two of three electives:

Biochemical and Molecular Neuroscience - 2 credit-hours  Advanced Electrophysiology: Potentials/Channels - 2 credit-hours  Neuropharmacology - 2 credit-hours  Behavioral Neurobiology - 3 credit hours

Seminar (attendance every term, present 1/year) - 1 credit-hour/term

Lab rotation/Research/Dissertation - every term

Written Qualifying Examination  Oral defense of dissertation proposal (NIH R01 grant format) and entry to Candidacy for Doctoral Degree

Final defense of dissertation

• First-year BBSC requirements waived, as for current MD-PhD students, except that NOD students will be required to take Ethics of Scientific Research (MEHU 6101). NOD students may be required to take a course in biostatistics/experimental design if deemed appropriate by program Advisory Committee or student's mentor or Supervisory Committee.
• Requirement for Systems Neuroscience (NEUR 6403) or Neuroscience and Human Behavior (NEUR 6503) is waived, as NOD students will have had an introductory course and clinical experience in general anatomy and function of the nervous system.
• Required to take the new course, Neurobiology of Disease (NEUR 61XX), for six terms (a total of six credit hours), beginning with the term of enrollment in the program. (For description of this course, see below).
• Required to take an additional four credit hours from any combination of the following courses: -Biochemical and Molecular Neuroscience (NEUR 6202) -Advanced Electrophysiology: Potentials/Channels (NEUR 6203) -Neuropharmacology (PHTO 6223) or CNS Pharmacology (PHTO 6205) -Behavioral Neuroscience (NEUR 6325) -One or more "methods" courses as offered by graduate programs -Relevant elective courses offered by NEUR or other graduate programs
• Students in the NOD Track will take the written qualifying examination, will defend a dissertation proposal, written in the form of an NIH R01 grant application, and will prepare and defend a doctoral dissertation, all in the same format and under the same policies as other students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
• NOD students will identify a laboratory in which to pursue the dissertation research as early as possible and must take at least one laboratory rotation of not less than 3-credit hours (equals at least 9 hours per week in a lab) before starting full-time work related to the dissertation project in a chosen mentor's lab.
• Upon matriculation into the NOD track students will be required to register for Seminar (NEUR 6195) each term and are expected to meet the requirements for seminar attendance in place currently for 3rd-year conventional students in the program—that is, to attend 7 seminars/term by faculty or visiting scientists (including presentations at respective departmental grand rounds) and 80% of all NGP student seminars. Beginning in their second year of enrollment, NOD students will be required to present one seminar/year under the same guidelines as for all other NGP students. After admission to candidacy, NOD students will have the same seminar requirements as all other NGP candidates (i.e., attendance at 80% of all student seminars and an annual presentation of a seminar.
• As for all graduate students, NOD students will have three terms after successful completion of the written qualifying examination to be admitted to candidacy (i.e., to defend the dissertation proposal).
• Acceptable progression through the NOD track will require careful planning and diligent work by NOD students. The track and the program will provide close guidance to facilitate the balance between clinical duties and NOD academic requirements. It is strongly recommended that NOD students efficiently utilize “free periods” in their residency program to fulfill course and research requirements of the track, beginning at the time of initial matriculation.

Attendance and class participation will be major considerations used in assigning grades (A,B,C, F).

Students in the track may elect to take these six sections at any time and in any order, and may do so while concurrently engaged in clinical responsibilities or while taking other NOD/NGP courses or laboratory rotations. The six sections of the NOD course must be completed before admission to candidacy and preferably before taking the written qualifying examination.

• Health Care
• UTMB Support Areas

Emory Eye Center section navigation

Post-graduate education and research.

As a National Eye Institute (NEI) T32 Vision Training Grant (VTG) program, the Department of Ophthalmology provides intensive basic science training to both pre- and postdoctoral fellows, with the goal of training innovative and productive vision researchers. 

Predoctoral training

This graduate program emphasizes collaboration between and among basic scientists, researchers, and clinical faculty from multiple disciplines. Students are mentored through direct participation in  laboratory investigations that are actively contributing to naational research priorities identified in NEI missions.

Graduate students receive formal training through Emory's Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences in the following six areas: immunology and pathology (IMP), biochemistry, cell and development biology (BCDB), genetics and molecular biology (GMB), neuroscience (NS), nutrition and health science (NHS), and molecular and systems pharmacology (MSP).

Graduates of this program can expect to gain a solid understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying normal ocular function as well as of diseases, retinal choroidal diseases, cataracts, glaucoma, and disorders of visual processing. 

Application requirements for pre-doctoral training

Students who have already been admitted to a program within Emory's Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences are eligible for application to this program. In addition, they should have already fulfilled most requirements for admission to Advanced Standing. Thus, the Vision Trainiing Grant Program will support research training that is directly relevant to diseases of the eye.

In addition, thir first year of study must meet the following standards 

• Demonstrated ability and promise in biomedical research
• Interest in research related to diseases of the eye
• Completion of at least one lab rotation in a vision research lab
• Association with a preceptor of the VTG as thesis advisor

Postdoctoral research 

Post-doctoal research and mentorship are offered under the preceptorship of established Emory Eye Center nvestigators who possess suitable training experience and research support for their labs. Postdoctoral training includes mainly bench research activities, but includes didactic work as necessary.

Although frequent contact with clinicians is encouraged, post-doctoral research projects are not part of clinical or patient treatment activities. They are aimed at pharmacologic, cell biologic, biochemical, neuroscience, immunologic, genetic, informatic, and molecular biology approaches within the multidisiplinary environment of vision research.

UCL Institute of Ophthalmology

Postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD)

UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is a vibrant and stimulating learning environment in which to carry out postgraduate research.

Postgraduate students at the Institute are fully integrated into university life at UCL and will benefit, academically and personally, from the services and facilities of the university’s Graduate School, plus accessing social and sporting facilities through the UCL Union.

Funded studentships

PhD Studentships provide funding that cover tuition fees, student living expenses and often some research expenses. Usually they will have been awarded to specific supervisors or programmes. Any Institute of Ophthalmology studentships will be featured here, but you may also want to regularly check relevant websites.

• Find a PhD is a comprehensive guide to PhD studentships and postgraduate research degrees
• And on the UCL main site list

Speculative opportunities

If you can’t find a studentship in a research project that interests you or you have your own funding, the best way to find a PhD project is to approach a potential supervisor directly. Exceptional students, that meet the entrance requirements, are encouraged to be proactive to identify opportunities with UCL academics whose recent research closely matches their interests. To apply for a PhD course at the Institute of Ophthalmology, please get in touch with a potential supervisor and discuss the details of your proposed project. Detailed guidance on how to contact a potential supervisor and the Project Proposal form can be found below. Once you have found a supervisor, who agrees to supervise, please fill in the application form online

A summary of the research interests of each of our supervisors can be found on the webpage of each principal investigator.

You may also wish to:

• browse the UCL's online Graduate Prospectus to find centres of research in your area of interest. Click through to the department or centre website to find staff profiles.
• search our online research repository (UCL Discovery) where UCL’s research papers are published, subject to approvals. If you identify a research paper that particularly interests you it is likely that one of the authors would be a suitable research supervisor.

If an academic is very impressed with your research experience and proposal they may be able to help you to identify sources of funding, including from their own, or departmental, research funds. There are also UCL scholarships that they can nominate you for.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Research Degrees Administrator Momo Rahim, Research Degrees Manager  [email protected]

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Tackle the biggest challenges in biology, medicine and health in a world leading research environment, and prepare for your future career.

Attend an open day

PhD/MPhil Ophthalmology / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Before applying you must:

• Choose a programme or find a project you want to apply for and check you’re eligible.
• Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme.
• Understand how your project is funded and, if it is self-funded, consider how you plan on funding it.
• Read our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out more.

Programme options

Programme overview

• Undertake research in a field you’re passionate about and join a project addressing leading challenges in the area while working with some of Europe's leading researchers and academics.
• Choose to research at a university ranked and 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings, 2025) and 2nd in the world for social and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings, 2024), where 93% of research activity is ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Impact Framework, 2021)
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at the University, through our industry partners, and at hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Benefit from dedicated support throughout your PhD journey, from pre-application to graduation and everything in between, through our Doctoral Academy
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme and progress into a career in research, academia or industry.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out about upcoming open days and events.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Optometry and Ophthalmology

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

• Education Home
• Medical Education Technology Support
• Graduate Medical Education
• Medical Scientist Training Program
• Public Health Sciences Program
• Continuing Medical Education
• Clinical Performance Education Center
• Center for Excellence in Education
• Research Home
• Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Genome Sciences
• Microbiology, Immunology, & Cancer Biology (MIC)
• Molecular Physiology & Biological Physics
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Public Health Sciences
• Office for Research
• Clinical Research
• Clinical Trials Office
• Funding Opportunities
• Grants & Contracts
• Research Faculty Directory
• Cancer Center
• Cardiovascular Research Center
• Carter Immunology Center
• Center for Behavioral Health & Technology
• Center for Brain Immunology & Glia
• Center for Diabetes Technology
• Center for Immunity, Inflammation & Regenerative Medicine
• Center for Membrane & Cell Physiology
• Center for Research in Reproduction
• Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS & Human Retrovirus Research
• Child Health Research Center (Pediatrics)
• Division of Perceptual Studies
• Research News: The Making of Medicine
• Core Facilities
• Virginia Research Resources Consortium
• Center for Advanced Vision Science
• Charles O. Strickler Transplant Center
• Keck Center for Cellular Imaging
• Institute of Law, Psychiatry & Public Policy
• Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia
• Clinical Home
• Anesthesiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Neurosurgery
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial, & Oral Health
• Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences
• Radiation Oncology
• Radiology & Medical Imaging
• UVA Health: Patient Care
• Diversity Home
• Diversity Overview
• Student Resources
• GME Trainee Resources
• Faculty Resources
• Community Resources

Nancy F. Vilar, MD, PhD

Associate Professor Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusive Strategist

Clinical Specialty:

Comprehensive & Neuro-Ophthalmology

To Make an Appointment: 434-924-5485

Certifications:

American Board of Ophthalmology

Fellowships:

Neuro-Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami University School of Medicine, Miami, FL 1998

Neuro-ophthalmology & Strabismus Specialist, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 1990

Truman Medical Center, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO 2003

Clinic Hospital San Carlos, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain 1989

Internal Medicine Internship, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, LA Internship, 1997

Doctoral Thesis in Ophthalmology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain PhD, 1992

Complutense University, Madrid, Spain MD, 1983

Academic Appointments:

University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Charlottesville, VA Associate Professor, 2023– Present

University of Virginia School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Charlottesville, VA Assistant Professor, 2020 – 2023

George Washington University, Medical Facilities Associates, DC 2011 – 2020

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retina Department, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL Clinical & Research Assistant, 1996

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retina Department, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL Clinical Observer, 1995

• Optometry Residency Program
• Patient Information

Our cookies

We use cookies for three reasons: to give you the best experience on PGS, to make sure the PGS ads you see on other sites are relevant , and to measure website usage. Some of these cookies are necessary to help the site work properly and can’t be switched off. Cookies also support us to provide our services for free, and by click on “Accept” below, you are agreeing to our use of cookies .You can manage your preferences now or at any time.

Privacy overview

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

Functional cookies

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

Performance cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

Course type

Qualification, university name, doctorate degrees in ophthalmology.

7 degrees at 5 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• Doctorate Ophthalmology
• Doctorate Audiology
• Doctorate Biomedical Engineering
• Doctorate Cardiovascular Medicine
• Doctorate Child Dentistry
• Doctorate Dental Health Education
• Doctorate Dental Hygiene
• Doctorate Dental Technology
• Doctorate Dentistry
• Doctorate Dermatology
• Doctorate Diagnostic Imaging
• Doctorate Emergency First Aid
• Doctorate Endocrinology
• Doctorate Endodontics
• Doctorate Epidemiology
• Doctorate Forensic Medicine
• Doctorate Gastroenterology
• Doctorate Geriatric Medical Studies
• Doctorate Haematology
• Doctorate Immunology
• Doctorate Medical Radiography
• Doctorate Medical Radiology
• Doctorate Medical Sciences
• Doctorate Medical Statistics
• Doctorate Medical Technology
• Doctorate Neurology
• Doctorate Obstetrics
• Doctorate Oncology
• Doctorate Optometry
• Doctorate Orthodontics
• Doctorate Orthopedics
• Doctorate Paramedical Services and Supplementary Medicine
• Doctorate Paramedical Work
• Doctorate Parenting and Carers
• Doctorate Pathology
• Doctorate Pediatrics
• Doctorate People with Disabilities: Skills and Facilities
• Doctorate Periodontics
• Doctorate Personal Health and Fitness
• Doctorate Pharmacology
• Doctorate Pharmacy
• Doctorate Prosthetics
• Doctorate Prosthodontics
• Doctorate Psychiatry
• Doctorate Psychoanalysis
• Doctorate Radiotherapy
• Doctorate Respiratory & Chest Diseases
• Doctorate Rheumatology
• Doctorate Sports Medicine
• Doctorate Surgery
• Doctorate Surgery, Medicine and Dentistry
• Doctorate Women's Health

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Optical Biology MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

The Optical Biology PhD programme will train future research leaders to answer fundamental questions in biology by exploiting and Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Institute of Ophthalmology MPhil/PhD

The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is a vibrant learning environment in which to carry out postgraduate research. Postgraduate students Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Doctor of Optometry / Doctor of Ophthalmic Science DOptom/DOphSc

Aston university, birmingham.

Undertake the part-time Doctor of Optometry / Doctor of Ophthalmic Sciences course with Aston University, Birmingham, to enhance your Read more...

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £9,350 per year (UK)

Eye and Vision Sciences MD

University of liverpool.

Eye and vision science research in Liverpool extends from basic molecular interactions through to health service implementation with the Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

PhD Ophthalmology

University of manchester.

Programme description Researchers in the Eye and Vision Sciences group work on basic science and clinical projects to improve our current Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)

Clinical Investigation and Vision Sciences PhD

Cardiff university.

Clinical Investigation and Vision Sciences is a research area in which you can focus your studies within our PhD programme in Vision Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree

Eye and Vision Sciences PhD

Course type:.

• Distance learning Doctorate
• Full time Doctorate
• Part time Doctorate

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

We have 12 Ophthalmology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

United Kingdom

Institution

All Institutions

All PhD Types

All Funding

Ophthalmology PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in the UK

Biofabrication approaches for the development of smart multifunctional biomaterials for corneal healing, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

COSMYC – Development of a Core Outcome Set for clinical trials of Myopia treatments in Children and young people

Funded phd project (european/uk students only).

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Developing novel delivery systems for local administration of drugs to the eye

Bioactive-loaded scaffolds for conjunctiva regeneration, funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

SEVERITY GRADING AND BIOMARKERS FOR RETINAL VASCULITIS

Ocular staining with lissamine green, development of novel miniaturized device technologies for point-of-need diagnostics, developing therapies targeting inflammation and dysfunctional matrix biology in neurological and ocular disease, msc by research: unravelling the mechanisms controlling anterior eye development, the circadian clock as a regulator of information processing, designing an internet-based intervention for carers and adults with acquired visual loss, application of visual neuroscience to optometric clinical practice.

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Filtering Results

Jefferson Doyle , MD , PhD , MHS

Pediatric ophthalmology.

• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

4.9 of 5 stars

14 insurances accepted, primary academic title.

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Jefferson Doyle, M.D., Ph.D., M.H.S. specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and genetic eye diseases and is the recipient of the 2023 Andreas C. Dracopoulos & Daniel Finkelstein, M.D. Rising Professorship in Ophthalmology. His main focus is pediatric and juvenile forms of cataracts, glaucoma, anterior segment dysgenesis, and ectopia lentis. His genetics interests include Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders, complex inherited forms of strabismus in both children and adults (e.g. CFEOM, Duane syndrome), and pediatric retinal dystrophies.

Dr. Doyle has published extensively on a number of genetic disorders over the past decade, holds several patents for novel therapeutic approaches to treat them, and has given many national and international talks about them. Dr. Doyle's main research focus is understanding the genetic causes and molecular mechanisms driving genetic diseases, and utilizing that knowledge to develop new therapeutic strategies for them.

Over the past decade, he has played a significant role in advancing our understanding of Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders. His work and that of collaborators has led to the discovery of the genetic causes of Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome and Loeys-Dietz like syndrome. His work has also led to a much better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving Marfan syndrome, and he holds two patents for novel therapeutic strategies to treat it.

Part of his current work focuses on the identification of genes that protect people from developing a number of genetic disorders, and leveraging that knowledge to develop new therapies for those diseases. He also has an interest in pediatric myopia, and has ongoing pre-clinical studies seeking to understand the mechanisms that may drive it and the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat it.

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

A Center for Genetic Eye Disease,  Wilmer Insider (Oct. 2021)

Additional Academic Titles

Assistant Professor of Genetic Medicine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=jefferson+doyle

Selected Publications

*Denotes equal contribution of authors

Habashi J.,* Doyle J.J. ,* Holm T., Aziz H., Schoenhoff F., et al. Angiotensin II type 2 receptor signalling attenuates aortic aneurysm in mice through ERK antagonism. Science 2011; 332:361-5.

Doyle J.J. ,* Doyle A.J.,* Wilson N., Habashi J.P., et al. A deleterious gene-by-environment interaction imposed by calcium channel blockers in Marfan Syndrome. E-life 2015; 4. Piie08648.

Doyle A.J.,* Doyle J.J. ,* Bessling S.L., Maragh S., et al. Mutations in the TGFβ repressor SKI cause Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome with aortic aneurysm. Nature Genetics 2012; 44:1249-54.

Holm T.,* Habashi J.,* Doyle J.J. ,* Bedja D., Chen Y., et al. Noncanonical TGFβ signalling contributes to aortic aneurysm progression in Marfan syndrome mice. Science 2011; 332:358-61.

Lindsay M.E., Schepers D., Bolar N.A., Doyle J.J. , et al. Loss of function mutations in TGFβ2 cause a syndromic presentation of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Nature Genetics 2012; 44:922-7.

• 2009 Charles Epstein Trainee Research Award, American Society of Human Genetics
• 2010 Charles Epstein Trainee Research Award Finalist, American Society of Human Genetics
• 2011 Michael A. Shanoff Award, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• 2016 W. Richard Green Housestaff Teaching Award
• 2017 Wilmer Research Association Research Award
• Victor A. McKusick Fellowship, National Marfan Foundation, 7/1/09

Memberships

• American Society of Human Genetics
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
• American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Additional Training

• Pre-Clinical Medicine (College): Oxford University, Oxford, UK
• Masters in Public Health (MHS): Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
• PhD: Genetics and Molecular Medicine: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
• Assistant Chief of Service: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, 
• 1800 Orleans Street, Maumenee Lobby , Baltimore , MD 21287
• phone: 410-955-5650
• fax: 443-769-1282
• 1800 Orleans Street, Wilmer B1-70 , Baltimore , MD 21287
• phone: 410-955-5080

Boston Children's Hospital

Johns hopkins university school of medicine, cambridge school of clinical medicine, johns hopkins bloomberg school of public health, board certifications, ophthalmology.

• First Health
• Geisinger Health Plan
• HealthSmart/Accel
• Johns Hopkins Health Plans
• Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
• Point Comfort Underwriters
• Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
• UnitedHealthcare
• Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

It is such a relief knowing our daughter is receiving the best care possible by a provider that is knowledgeable about her condition. We traveled 10 hours to see Dr Doyle and will continue to do so because I know my daughter is safe in his care.

Dr. Doyle is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and caring.

Excellent doctor for my eye condition

Very easy to talk to. His examination was thorough. He was compassionate and encouraging.

Extremely thorough, In depth knowledge, thoughtful, compassionate, respectfulBest there can be!

He is an excellent doctor

Dr Doyle explains everything (initially, the diagnosis) that is going on and how and why he is providing certain treatment/instructions.He is very thorough.

Very nice kid friendly as well my grandchildren love there doctor

Dr Doyle is wonderful and we feel grateful that we are able to see him.

Dr. Doyle is excellent. Knows his patients and their needs.

Best most knowledgeable doctor concerning my condition I've Ever met

Dr. Doyle has been attentive, courteous, and professional during all my visits.

He was very professional and nice, listened to my concerns.

Great provider but the wait time is way to long for peds.

He did an amazing job at making sure I was taken care of.

I really liked the attention they had with my baby

Always friendly and listens to your concerns.

He is so kind to my daughter I really appreciate him

Intelligent, caring, outstanding, bar none

Dr. Doyle is the best He is always so knowledge and helpful

It was super time I had with Provider

Dr. Doyle is the best. The medical student was excellent as well.

Amazing doctor, you can tell the genuine care he has for his patients.

2 ophthalmology PhD scholarships

Filtered by.

• Scholarship
• ophthalmology

Refine Your Search

• Netherlands 1
• Maastricht University (UM) 1
• Technical University of Munich 1
• Computer Science 1

Two PhD positions in AI for medical imaging

computer vision algorithms in the field of ophthalmology . The group is led by Dr. Martin Menten and is funded by the Emmy Noether-Program of the German Research Foundation. It is integrated with

PhD candidate on a stem cell therapy for cornea regeneration at the MERLN Institute

signalling. They should have practical skills in (stem) cell culture and several molecular techniques. Knowledge of cell therapies, regenerative medicine, and ophthalmology are all viewed positively but

Searches related to ophthalmology

• medical sciences
• postdoctoral
• microbiology
• master in ophthalmology
• vision science
• parasitology

• Campus News /

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Welcomes Comprehensive Ophthalmologist Eric Habbe, MD

August 11, 2024

Eric Habbe, MD has joined the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences as clinical instructor. Dr. Habbe is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and will provide patient care as well as resident education.

Dr. Habbe joins us after previously working at Hendricks Regional Health in Avon, Indiana. He completed his undergraduate degree at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD and medical degree from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. Dr. Habbe completed his residency here at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Habbe back to the Eye Institute!

Comprehensive atlas of normal breast cells offers new tool for understanding breast cancer origin

Aug 12, 2024

Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD

INDIANAPOLIS — Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have completed the most extensive mapping of healthy breast cells to date. These findings offer an important tool for researchers at IU and beyond to understand how breast cancer develops and the differences in breast tissue among genetic ancestries.

Published this month in Nature Medicine , researchers developed a comprehensive atlas of breast tissue cells — including details on how genome is organized in each cell type and the effects of this genome organization on how RNA is made in each cell type to drive their function in various parts of the breast — using healthy breast tissue from women of diverse ancestry.

“Breast cancer shows variability in the outcome based on your genetic ancestry,” said Harikrishna Nakshatri, PhD , senior author of the study. “While socio-economics are certainly a contributing factor, we believe biology and ancestry also play a role. This study will help us to address that biological, ancestral aspect.”

Nakshatri is the Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research at IU School of Medicine and a researcher of the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Nakshatri’s lab sequenced 88,000 cell nuclei from 92 women who donated healthy breast tissue to the Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. The donors included people of African, European, Indigenous American, Hispanic, East Asian, Southeast Asian and Ashkenazi-Jewish-European ancestry.

The cell mapping includes data not only on the genes expressed in various cell types, but also on how the genes are organized and what specific gene expressions are limited to each cell type. Researchers know breast cancer most often originates in specific cell types and where it originates leads to different cancer type and treatment responses. This study could improve understanding of breast cancer development and lead to identifying new treatment targets.

“This research aimed to understand the building blocks of the normal breast — meaning how many different cell types exist in the normal breast and do the building blocks of the cells show genetic ancestry-dependent variability,” Nakshatri said. “Unless we know from which cell types of the breast the cancer originates, we can't really figure out what exactly is going wrong in breast cancer compared to the normal breast.”

Previously available research resources have used normal tissue from breast cancer surgeries and reduction mammoplasty samples. The Komen Tissue Bank, the world’s only healthy breast tissue bank, offers IU researchers a unique opportunity for this study.

“We are using tissue from women who are clinically free of breast cancer; for that reason, we do believe the data that we created are close to perfect — truly the closest you can get,” Nakshatri said. “The data we generated from this is going to stay in perpetuity because it's going to be used by many, many groups for future research.”

The cell atlas information from the study will be broadly available to breast cancer researchers through databases offered by the National Institutes of Health, Human Cell Atlas and Chan Zuckerberg CELL by GENE Discover .

This research is the culmination of nearly five years of intense work from the Nakshatri lab and with bioinformatic analysis. Additional IU School of Medicine and IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center authors include Poornima Bhat-Nakshatri, Hongyu Gao, Aditi S. Khatpe, Adedeji K. Adebayo, Patrick C. McGuire, Cihat Erdogan, Duojiao Chen, Guanglong Jiang, Rana German, Lydia Emmert, George Sandusky, Anna Maria Storniolo and Yunlong Liu.

About the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center 

The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of only 57 in the nation. The prestigious comprehensive designation recognizes the center's excellence in basic, clinical, and population research, outstanding educational activities, and effective community outreach program across the state. It is also one of only 33 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. As a member, the center's physicians have a role in determining the recognized standard of clinical care for cancer patients. The center is the central hub for cancer research and education across Indiana University. 

About the IU School of Medicine

The IU School of Medicine  is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2023 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.

Writer: Candace Gwaltney,  [email protected]

Source: Hari Nakshatri,  [email protected]

For more news, visit the IU School of Medicine Newsroom:  medicine.iu.edu/news

Follow us on X:  @IUMedSchool

Media Contacts

Related news.

Innovation in Eye Care, Research & Education

• See us on facebook
• See us on linkedin
• See us on instagram
• Neuro-Ophthalmology

Clinical Fellowships & Advanced Training

• Cornea & External Disease
• Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Pediatric & Strabismus
• Vitreoretinal Surgery Program
• Uveitis & Medical Retina Program
• Global Ophthalmology
• Eye Pathology
• Current Advanced Trainees

Program Overview

The neuro-ophthalmology division at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford is pleased to offer a one-year, AUPO FCC-compliant neuro-ophthalmology advanced training program that is designed for physicians who have completed residency training in either ophthalmology or neurology in either the U.S. or Canada at the time the program commences. Visa sponsorship is available for eligible fellows. 

Activities will consist of outpatient care, inpatient consultation, didactic learning, including attendance at the Stanford Bay Area Ophthalmology Course, and presentation at national conferences such as the North American Neuro-ophthalmology Society (NANOS) annual meeting. Surgical experience can be arranged for interested applicants.

Training will be tailored to the participant's previous training and future interests, including opportunities for research and teaching. Upon completion of this training, participants will be broadly trained to diagnose and manage a variety of neuro-ophthalmic conditions.

The clinical neuro-ophthalmology faculty, consisting of Drs. Joyce Liao, Heather Moss, and Shannon Beres will provide supervision.  Affiliated faculty Dr. Khizer Khaderi will also contribute to education.

Applications are accepted through the SF Match  between late June and mid-September of the year before the fellowship start date. This year, the deadline is September 20, 2024. 

Please contact our fellowship coordinator or Heather Moss, MD, PhD, at  [email protected] with any questions.

Teaching Faculty

Y. Joyce Liao, MD, PhD

Shannon Beres, MD

Heather Moss, MD, PhD Director

Khizer Khaderi, MD, MPH

Applications

We offer one clinical fellowship position annually, starting in early July and concluding in June of the following year

This position is open to individuals who have completed ACGME-approved residency training in neurology or ophthalmology in the US or the equivalent residency training in Canada.

Our clinical fellowship position is filled through the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship match, which is a part of the  Ophthalmology Fellowship Match  through the SF Match company. All  AUPO compliant neuro-ophthalmology programs  are participating in this match.

Applications for July start dates are due on  September 15  of the prior year.  To apply, please register  for the ophthalmology fellowship match and submit your application using the central application service . 

If you have questions, please contact the Fellowship Coordinator  .

Program Photos

Our Neuro-ophthalmology faculty were excited to welcome Fannie Nadeau, MD to the class of 2025 fellowship cohort. 

Congratulations to Susiani Intan, MD, our 2021 neuro-ophthalmology fellow graduate!

The Byers Eye Institute's neuro-ophthalmology fellows and instructors at NANAOS. 

Neuro-ophthalmology fellows have many opportunities to attend and present at conferences.