Research

The ultimate goal of the UC Davis Health System is to find cures for blinding eye diseases and towards that end, clinical trials are essential. Conducting human subjects research gives us an opportunity to use the latest, most promising treatments in the form of drugs, devices, or procedures in an effort to cure or manage ocular diseases. We also conduct a multitude of studies that do not involve drugs or devices, but may collect data through questionnaires, patching, blood and surgical specimens, and imaging. Our clinical trials cover all subspecialties, including Glaucoma, Cornea, and Vitreo-Retinal Disease.

Study subjects often come from outside the UC Davis Health System. Ophthalmologists and primary care doctors can refer their patients, or the patients may read or hear about the study and call to see if he or she might be a candidate. Otherwise, the doctors in the UC Davis Health System Ophthalmology Clinic inform their own patients of studies they are conducting to see if they are interested in participating. Not all studies benefit a subject directly, but some do. The advantage for a patient to participate in a clinical trial is that they will receive comprehensive, personalized medical care from the specialists, and if applicable, the latest advances in treatment at no cost. Further, there is the knowledge that they had a part in advancing the medical community’s understanding of how best to treat various eye conditions.

Private industry, such as pharmaceutical companies, develop and fund the majority of clinical trials, however, they also fund investigator-initiated studies. Other studies are supported in whole or in part by grants such as from the National Eye Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH), or private endowments from foundations such as Research to Prevent Blindness or Fight for Sight. Research gifts donated to the PI or Department also support research projects. Currently we are conducting 68 clinical trials and research studies. Outside sources fund approximately 25% of these studies for a cost value of $3.4 million.

The coordinators and doctors consistently state that the most rewarding part of any study is getting to know the subjects throughout the course of a study. They are vested in each patient, and they do all they can to ensure the comfort, safety and success for every study subject. The ultimate reward is learning that the subjects did indeed benefit from the treatment, and that the FDA approves and allows the new drug or device to be brought to market for the betterment of all.