Ophthalmology

Wnt ligands in tumorigenesis; vascular regression and tissue regeneration; lens induction and morphogenesis.

Visit the Lang Lab.

BSc: Co-major in genetics and biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1984 (with honors).

PhD: University of Melbourne, Australia, at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research under Drs. AR Dunn and TJ Gonda, 1988.

Postdoctoral Fellow: The G.W. Hooper Research Foundation, University of California, San Francisco under Dr. JM Bishop, 1989-92. Studied the role of the macrophage in developmentally programmed tissue remodeling.

Yeo EJ, Cassetta L, Qian BZ, Lewkowich I, Li JF, Stefater JA 3rd, Smith AN, Wiechmann LS, Wang Y, Pollard J, Lang RA. Myeloid WNT7b mediates the angiogenic switch and metastasis in breast cancer. Cancer Res. 2014 Jun 1;74(11):2962-73.

Rao S, Chun C, Fan J, Kofron JM, Yang MB, Hegde RS, Ferrara N, Copenhagen DR, Lang RA. A direct and melanopsin-dependent fetal light response regulates mouse eye development. Nature. 2013;494(7436):243-6.

Stefater JA 3rd, Lewkowich I, Rao S, Mariggi G, Carpenter AC, Burr AR, Fan J, Ajima R, Molkentin JD, Williams BO, Wills-Karp M, Pollard JW, Yamaguchi T, Ferrara N, Gerhardt H, Lang RA. Regulation of angiogenesis by a non-canonical Wnt-Flt1 pathway in myeloid cells. Nature. 2011 May 29;474(7352):511-5.

Chauhan BK, Lou M, Zheng Y, Lang RA. Balanced Rac1 and RhoA activities regulate cell shape and drive invagination morphogenesis in epithelia. PNAS. 2011 Nov 8;108(45):18289-94.

Plageman TF Jr, Chung MI, Lou M, Smith AN, Hildebrand JD, Wallingford JB, Lang RA. Pax6-dependent Shroom3 expression regulates apical constriction during lens placode invagination. Development. 2010 Feb;137(3):405-15.

Lobov IB, Rao S, Carroll TJ, Vallance JE, Ito M, Ondr JK, Kurup S, Glass DA, Patel MS, Shu W, Morrisey EE, McMahon AP, Karsenty G, Lang RA. Wnt7b mediates macrophage-induced programmed cell death in patterning of the vasculature. Nature. 2005 Sep 15;437(7057):417-21.

Faculty

Zelia M. Correa, MD, PhD Ophthalmologist, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology

is an ocular oncologist and ophthalmic pathologist who has been dedicated to clinical and translational research mainly focusing on uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Her primary focuses are development and treatment of metastasis from uveal melanoma, and new advances in management of retinoblastoma.

513-475-7300 correazm@uc.edu

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Zelia M. Correa, MD, PhD

Ophthalmologist, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology

Ocular Oncology

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Ophthalmology

Phone 513-475-7300

Email correazm@uc.edu

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Clinical & Research Interests

Clinical

Ocular oncology; retinoblastoma and childhood ocular benign and malignant tumors

Research

Ocular oncology; ophthalmic pathology

Biography

Dr. Correa has been recognized by her academic achievements and her volunteer service/leadership in the profession of ophthalmology. She has received an achievement award (2010) and the international ophthalmologist education award (2009) from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Additionally, she has been recognized by two Secretariat Awards also from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and has been the youngest Guest of Honor at their National Meeting in 2009. Here in Cincinnati, she has received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Education (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine) in 2011.

Undergraduate: Faculdade Riopretense de Filosofia Ciências e Letras, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.

MD: Faculdade Medicina de Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, 1989.

Residency: Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília, Brazil, 1992.

Certification: Ophthalmology, 1992.

Fellowship: Vitreoretinal surgery, Brazil, 1995.

Fellowship: Ocular oncology, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 1996.

PhD: UNIFESP (Federal university of São Paulo, SP, Brazil), 2003.

Post-doctoral fellowships: Ophthalmic pathology, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 2005; Ophthalmic pathology and translational research, McGill University-Montreal, QC, Canada, 2006.

Correa ZM, Augsburger JJ. Sufficiency of FNAB aspirates of posterior uveal melanoma for cytologic versus GEP classification in 159 patients, and relative prognostic significance of these classifications. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2013 Nov 24. [Epub ahead of print].

Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM, Trichopoulos N. Prognostic implications of cytopathologic classification of melanocytic uveal tumors evaluated by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2013 Mar-Apr;76(2):72-9.

Onken MD, Worley LA, Char DH, Augsburger JJ, Correa ZM, Nudleman E, Aaberg TM Jr, Altaweel MM, Bardenstein DS, Finger PT, Gallie BL, Harocopos GJ, Hovland PG, McGowan HD, Milman T, Mruthyunjaya P, Simpson ER, Smith ME, Wilson DJ, Wirostko WJ, Harbour JW. Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group Report Number 1: Prospective Validation of a Multi-Gene Prognostic Assay in Uveal Melanoma. Ophthalmology. 2012 Aug;119(8):1596-603.

Simoes CC, Call MK, Correa ZM, Spaulding AG, Augsburger JJ. Clinical and histopathological features and immunoreactivity of human choroidal and ciliary body melanomas as prognostic factors for metastasis and death. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011;249(12):1795-803.

Augsburger JJ, Correa ZM, Trichopoulos N. Surveillance testing for metastasis from primary uveal melanoma and effect on patient survival. Am J Ophthalmol. 2011 July;152(1):5-9.

Palakurthi NK, Correa ZM, Augsburger JJ, Banerjee RK. Toxicity of a biodegradable microneedle implant loaded with methotrexate as a sustained release device in normal rabbit eye: a pilot study. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Apr;27(2):151-6.

Correa ZM, Marshall JC, Souza Filho JP, Odashiro AN, Burnier Jr MN. Fine needle aspiration biopsy to reestablish cell culture in an animal model of uveal melanoma. Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2009 Jul-Aug;72(4):515-8.

Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM, Shaikh AH. Quality of evidence about effectiveness of treatments for metastatic uveal melanoma. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2008;106:128-35; discussion 135-7.

Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM, Trichopoulos N, Shaikh A. Size overlap between benign melanocytic choroidal nevi and choroidal malignant melanomas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Jul;49(7):2823-8.

Augsburger JJ, Corrêa ZM, Schneider S, Yassin RS, Robinson-Smith T, Ehya H, Trichopoulos N. Diagnostic transvitreal fine-needle aspiration biopsy of small melanocytic choroidal tumors in nevus versus melanoma category. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2002;100:225-32; discussion 232-4.

Fumika Hamada, PhD

is working to identify molecular mechanisms of temperature sensation using the fly brain as a model. We will elucidate how temperature stimuli are relayed and represented in the brain and will uncover the temperature-responsive neural circuits using genetic, behavioral and physiological approaches.
Visit the Hamada Lab.

513-803-1662 fumika.hamada@cchmc.org

High Res

Fumika Hamada, PhD

Academic Affiliations

Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-803-1662

Fax 513-803-0740

Email fumika.hamada@cchmc.org

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Research Interests

Thermo- and pain sensation in Drosophila.

Visit the Hamada Lab.

Postdoctoral Fellow: Brandeis University, 2005-2009. Harvard Medical School, 2004-2005.

PhD: Tokyo University of Science, Japan, 2004.

BS: Tokyo University of Science, Japan, 1999.

Head L, Tang X, Hayley SE, Goda T, Umezaki Y, Chang EC, Leslie JR, Fujiwara M, Garrity PA, Hamada FN. The influence of light on temperature preference in Drosophila. Current Biology. 2015.

Goda T, Leslie J, Hamada FN. Design and analysis of temperature preference rhythm in Drosophila. J Vis Exp. 2014 Jan 13;(83).

Tang X, Platt MD, Lagnese CM, Leslie JR, Hamada FN. Temperature integration at the AC thermosensory neurons in Drosophila. J Neurosci. 2013 Jan 16;33(3):894-901.

Kaneko H, Head LM, Ling J, Liu Y, Hardin PE, Emery P, Hamada FN. Circadian rhythm of temperature preference and its neural control in Drosophila. Current Biology. 2012 Oct 9;22(19):1851-7.

Hamada FN, Rosenzweig M, Kang K, Pulver SR, Ghezzi A, Jegla TJ, Garrity PA. An internal thermal sensor controlling temperature preference in Drosophila. Nature. 2008 Jul 10;454(7201):217-20.

Hamada FN, Koshiyama A, Namekawa SH, Ishii S, Iwabata K, Sugawara H, Nara TY, Sakaguchi K, Sawado T. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) interacts with a meiosis-specific RecA homologues, Lim15/Dmc1, but does not stimulate its strand transfer activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Jan 26;352(4):836-42.

Hamada FN, Park PJ, Gordadze PR, Kuroda MI. Global regulation of X chromosomal genes by the MSL complex in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes Dev. 2005 Oct 1;19(19):2289-94.

Virginia A. Miraldi Utz, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology

is a pediatric ophthalmologist who works closely with faculty within the Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Department and Division of Human Genetics. Her research interests are in nosology of ophthalmic genetic disorders and syndromes including retinal dystrophies and mitochondrial disorders.

513-636-4751

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Virginia A. Miraldi Utz, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology

Academic Affiliations

Assistant Professor, UC Department of Ophthalmology

Phone 513-636-4751

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Specialties

Pediatric eye diseases such as amblyopia, cataracts and strabismus; diagnosis and management of genetic eye disorders and syndromes (retinal dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, ocular malformations and mitochondrial disorders); pediatric uveitis and ocular inflammation.

Biography

Dr. Virginia Miraldi Utz, MD, FAAP, is an assistant professor of pediatric ophthalmology at the Abrahamson Eye Institute of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center within the UC Department of Pediatrics. She completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry and religious studies at The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) and Kanda University (Chiba, Japan). She received her Doctor of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was served as co-president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Society chapter. During her residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, she was awarded the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation Travel Grant for her basic science research in ocular microbiology and immunology and the Humanism in Ophthalmology Award. She completed her fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. She recently completed additional clinical training in the field of ocular inflammation and uveitis preceptorship to serve patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and related disorders.

Dr. Miraldi Utz specializes in the management of pediatric eye disorders such as amblyopia, strabismus, and pediatric cataracts. She has special clinical and research interests in ocular inflammatory disease and ophthalmic genetic disorders, including ocular malformations and retinal dystrophies. Dr. Miraldi Utz has published multiple research articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as having contributed abstracts and presentations at a number of professional association meetings. She is a peer reviewer for several journals, including Ophthalmic Genetics, Molecular Vision, and British Journal of Ophthalmology. She is a member of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Uveitis Society, Ophthalmic Genetic Study Club, International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases and Retinoblastoma, and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.

Residency: Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Eye Institute Case Medical Center, Case Affiliated Hospitals Residency Program, Cleveland, Ohio.

Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, Ohio.

Preceptorship: Pediatric Uveitis, The Retina Group, Columbus, OH; Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH.

Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology, 2013.

Utz VM, Coussa RG, Marino MJ, Chappelow AV, Pauer GJ, Hagstrom SA, Traboulsi EI. Predictors of Visual Acuity and Genotype-Phenotype Correlates in a Cohort of Patients with Stargardt Disease. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014 Apr:98(4):513-8.

Utz VM, Chappelow AV, Marino MJ, Beight CD, Sturgill-Short GM, Pauer GJ, Crowe S, Hagstrom SA, Traboulsi EI. Identification of Three ABCA4 Sequence Variations Exclusive to African-American Patients in a Cohort of Patients with Stargardt Disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 2013 Dec;156(6):1220-1227.

Utz VM, Beight CD, Marino MJ, Hagstrom SA, Traboulsi EI. Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Secondary to Pre-mRNA Splicing Factor Gene PRPF31: Review of Disease Mechanism and Report of Family with a Novel 3-Base Insertion. Ophthalmic Gen. 2013 Dec;34(4):183-8.

Utz VM, Tang J. Ocular Manifestations of Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol. 2011 Apr;95(4):454-9.

Mucci JJ, Utz VM, Galor A, Jeng BH. Recurrence Rates of Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis in Contact Lens Wearers: Eye Contact Lens. Eye Contact Lens. 2009 Jul;35(4):185-7.

Utz VM, Krueger RR. Management of Irregular Astigmatism Following Rotationally Disoriented Free Cap After LASIK. J Refract Surg. 2008 Apr;24(4):383-91.

Michael B. Yang, MD Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology

investigates prognostic risk factors for the development of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). These risk factors may generate hypotheses about underlying mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of ROP. The role of light exposure to the fetus during early gestation is an ongoing interest.

513-636-4751

High Res

Michael B. Yang, MD

Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Ophthalmology

Phone 513-636-4751

Fax 513-636-7911

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Clinical & Research Interests

Clinical

Cataract; glaucoma; pediatric and adult strabismus; surgery for nystagmus patients with abnormal head posture; periocular capillary hemangiomas; retinopathy of prematurity

Research

Retinopathy of prematurity; periocular drug delivery; genetics of glaucoma and aniridia

BS: Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1988.

MD: Harvard Medical School-Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Joint Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Boston, MA, 1993.

Internship: Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Boston, MA, 1993-1994.

Residency: Ophthalmology, Estelle Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California/LosAngeles County Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, 1994-1997.

Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1998-1999.

Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology, 2000; Recertified 2011.

Liu H, Yang MB, Li SK, Hao J. Effects of dosing protocol on distribution of propranolol in periocular tissues after topical ocular instillation. Current Eye Research. 2015 May;40(6):638-45.

Yang MB, Rao S, Copenhagen DR, Lang RA. Length of Day during Early Gestation as an Independent Predictor of Risk for Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity. Ophthalmology. 2013 Dec;120(12):2706-13.

Yang MB, Melia M, Lambert SR, Chiang MF, Simpson JL, Buffenn AN. Fibrin Glue for Closure of Conjunctiva in Strabismus Surgery: a Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2013 Sep;120(9):1935-41.

Lambert SR, Melia M, Buffenn AN, Chiang MF, Simpson JL, Yang MB. Rebound Tonometry: a Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published Online. Ophthalmology. 2013 Apr;120(4):e21-7.

Rao S, Chun C, Fan J, Kofron M, Yang MB, Hegde R, Ferrara N, Copenhagen DR, Lang RA. A direct and melanopsin-dependent fetal light response regulates mouse eye development. Nature. 2013 Feb 14;494(7436):243-6.

Chiang MF, Melia M, Buffenn AN, Lambert SR, Recchia FM, Simpson JL, Yang MB. Detection of Clinically Significant Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Wide-Angle Digital Retinal Photography: a Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2012 Jun;119(6):1272-80.

Simpson JL, Melia M, Yang MB, Buffenn AN, Chiang MF, Lambert SR. Current Role of Cryotherapy in Retinopathy of Prematurity: a Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2012 Apr;119(4):873-7.

Hao J, Yang MB, Liu H, Li SK. Distribution of Propranolol in Periocular Tissues: A Comparison of Topical and Systemic Administration. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 27:453-9, 2011.

Yang MB, Donovan EF. Risk Analysis and Alternative Protocols for Reduction of Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity. J AAPOS. 2009;13(6)-539-45.

Yang MB, Donovan EF, Wagge JR. Race, Gender, and Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) Score as Predictors of Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity. J AAPOS. 2006;10:253-61.

Grants