North Carolina Lions Clinical Research Division

A major grant from the Lions Clubs of North Carolina and Lions International helped to fund the NC Lions Clinical Research Division. It is an integral part of Wake Forest University Eye Center which moved into its new facility in 1990. A dedicated research space of more than 1,000 sq.ft. and proximal to the Eye Center's waiting areas and diagnostic facilities, the division is staffed by full-time research nurses.

The North Carolina Lions has had a long history with the eye center -- providing a major donation of clinical examination equipment in 1947.

Since its inception, the Clinical Research Division has performed numerous and diverse clinical studies ranging from the evaluation of potential ocular side effects of anti-cholesterol drugs to a pioneering photographic technique of documenting diffuse retinal diseases in a computer-driven, seamless fashion. This later work was displayed at the 1998 International Congress of Ophthalmology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Major Research

The Eye Center faculty currently participates in major clinical research trials of national significance:

• DRCR Studies - Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, member.
• We participate in two National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants in the areas of glaucoma disease treatment (CIGTS) - Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study) and contact lenses. Grant-supported work in the area of corneal wound healing is ongoing as is research in ocular heat shock protein and retinal adhesion glycoprotein expression. This work has led to a steady number of presentations by the VSRG at the Annual International Vision Research meeting (ARVO) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• The Eye Center faculty has been engaged in a number of clinical investigations including a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) trial of a new corneal refractive laser, early identification of viral nucleic acid by PCR in HIV-associated ocular diseases, corneal eye banking studies, binocular visual field testing, and the role of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of conjuctival atypia.
• The Lilly Study: Dr. Craig Greven is the principle investigator for the NEI designed study which has 23 centers participating internationally and 12 other participating centers in the US. This major study is aimed toward evaluating a protein-kinase inhibitory drug which may have a preventative role in diabetic retinopathy.