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Faculty
Brown, Stuart I. MD
Brody, Barbara MPH
Ferreyra, Henry
A. MD
Freeman, William
R. MD
Goldbaum, Michael
H. MD
Granet, David B. MD
Haw,
Weldon, MD
Heichel, Chris MD
Kikkawa, Don O. MD
Korn, Bobby S. MD, PhD
Levi, Leah MD
Medeiros, Felipe
MD PhD
Nguyen, Thao MD
Robbins, Shira MD
Savino, Peter J. MD
Schanzlin, David
J. MD
Weinreb, Robert N.
MD Zhang, Kang MD, PhD
Research Faculty
Ayyagari, Radha PhD
Bartsch,
Dirk- Uwe PhD
Lindsey, James D. PhD
Liu, John H K PhD
Sample, Pamela A.
PhD
Silva, Gabriel A. MSc
PhD
Zangwill, Linda
PhD
Research Scientist
Bowd, Christoper PhD
Cheng, Lingyun MD
Duncan, Robert PhD
Ju, Won-Kyu PhD
Kozak, Igor MD, PhD
Vasireddy, Vidyullatha PhD
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Pamela A. Sample, Ph.D.
Professor in Residence, Department of Ophthalmology
Director, Visual Function Laboratory
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Dr. Sample
is a professor of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Center
of University of California, San Diego and Director
of Clinical Vision Research for the Hamilton Glaucoma
Center with one of the world’s leading research
laboratories in visual psychophysics of glaucoma. She
is the Principal Investigator of a National Eye Institute
(NEI) funded ongoing longitudinal study of visual function
in glaucoma that was begun in 1990, the Diagnostic Innovations
in Glaucoma Study: Visual Function (DIGS). Dr. Sample
was the co-developer of a new diagnostic test, Short-Wavelength
Automated Perimetry (SWAP). SWAP identifies glaucoma-related
loss of visual function 3-5 years earlier than standard
clinical perimetry and shows progressive damage 1-3
years earlier. The test is also superior for identification
of vision defects associated with neuro-ophthalmic disease,
age-related macular degeneration, migraine, optic neuritis,
diabetes, and HIV infection. Comparing results of new
visual function specific tests for glaucoma, two of
which were developed in her laboratory, Dr. Sample has
found that all retinal ganglion cell subtypes are affected
early in glaucoma but tests that isolate sub-populations
of these cells are more sensitive for early detection.
Additionally, Dr. Sample is the Principal Investigator
of the NEI-funded, multicenter “African Americans
with Glaucoma Study: Structure and Function (AAG).”
This is the first prospectively designed study to follow
this higher-risk cohort equating factors such as access
to quality care, access to prescribed glaucoma medications,
and study protocol to match the DIGS, which primarily
follows white participants. This study is currently
enrolling and is currently funded for four years of
follow-up. The comparisons between the two cohorts,
AAG and DIGS, should clarify our understanding of the
differences suggested by population-based studies where
a variety of factors may have contributed to observed
differences between these two groups.
Dr. Sample is co-Investigator on another NEI-sponsored
grant, Medical Advice from Glaucoma Informatics, with
the principal investigator, Dr. Michael H. Goldbaum,
and other members of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center and
scientists from the Salk Institute. This research uses
machine learning classifiers for interpretation of vision
test results and for better identification of progressive
change in vision due to glaucoma.
Dr. Sample is internationally recognized in her field
and has contributed her expertise to many panels, committees,
boards, and global conferences. She is an elected member
of the Glaucoma Society of the International Congress
of Ophthalmology. Active membership in this prestigious
and exclusive society is limited to only 70 individuals
from throughout the world. She was a 1999 recipient
of the Lew R. Wasserman award for Outstanding Achievements
in Vision Research from the Research to Prevent Blindness
Association. She is a member of the board of directors
for the International Perimetric Society and the editorial
board for the Journal of Glaucoma, a past member of
the ethics committee for the Association for Research
in Vision and Ophthalmology and for a data safety and
monitoring committee for the National Eye Institute-sponsored
retinitis pigmentosa study. She was editor of Assessing
Visual Function in Clinical Practice and section editor
for the most recent edition of Adler’s Physiology
of the Eye. She was a past panel member for development
of the National Eye Institute’s five year Vision
Research Plan. In 2002 she received the UCSD Earl Warren
College Outstanding Faculty Award for Undergraduate
Mentoring.
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