eyes

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, The Schepens Eye Research Institute                                             
Boston, MA

2003- 2005

Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellow, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary/Retina Specialists of Boston
Boston, MA

2001- 2003

Uveitis and Ocular Immunology Senior Staff Fellow, National Eye Institute
Bethesda, MD

1998- 2000

Ophthalmology Residency, Georgetown Univ. School of Medicine
Washington, D.C.

1995- 1998

Transitional Internship, Fairfax Hospital, Georgetown Univ. School of Medicine
Fairfax, VA                                                                                                                        

1994- 1995

MA, New York University School of Medicine
New York, NY

1989- 1994

MD, New York University School of Medicine
New York, NY

1989-1994

MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
Baltimore, MD

1991- 1992

B.A., Chemistry, Cum Laude, Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

1985- 1989


Hospital Affiliations

U Mass Medical Center
Medical Staff Services
281 Lincoln Street, Suite HM2-212
Worcester, MA 01605

Nashoba Steward Medical Center
200 Groton Road
Ayer, MA 01432

St. Vincent Hospital
123 Summer Street
Worcester, MA 01608-1216

Mass Eye and Ear
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114



Professional Memberships and Activities

American Society of Retina Specialists, Member

2011-

Harvard Ethics Consortium, Member

2005-

New England Ophthalmological Society, Member

2005-

American Academy of Ophthalmology, Fellow

1999-

Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Member

1993-



Teaching Activities and Lectures

Training of post-doctoral clinical and research fellows

2007-

Faculty Seminar Series
The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA

2007- 2011

Trainee Lecture Series
The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA

2005

Guest Speaker
Instituto Oftalmologico Ramon Pando Ferrer, Havana, Cuba

2003

Curso Basico
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR

2003


Clinical Trials

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
PROMINENT-Eye Ancillary Study:  Diabetic Retinopathy Outcomes in a Randomized Trial of Pemafibrate versus Placebo Protocol AD, Phase 3

2018-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
A Randomized Trial of Intravitreous Aflibercept versus Intravitreous Bevacizumab + Deferred Aflibercept for Treatment of Central-Involved Diabetic Macular Edema Protocol AC, Phase 3

2017-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
A Phase 3 Randomized, Double-Masked, Vehicle-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of ADX-102 ophthalmic Solution in Subjects with Non-infectious Anterior Uveitis, Phase 3

2017-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Intravitreous Anti-VEGF vs. Prompt Vitrectomy for Vitreous Hemorrhage from Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Protocol AB, Phase 3

2017-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Multi-Center, Non-Interventional Extension Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension (CLS-TA) for the Treatment of Macular Edema associated with Non-Infectious Uveitis Magnolia, Non-interventional

2017-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Intravitreous Anti-VEGF Treatment for Prevention of Vision Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy in Eyes at High Risk Protocol W, Phase 3

2016-

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
A Phase 3, Randomized, Masked, Controlled Clinical Trial to Study the Safety and Efficacy of Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension (CLS-TA) for the Treatment of Subjects with Macular Edema associated with Non-Infectious Uveitis Peachtree, Phase 3

2016-2018

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Safety and Efficacy of Abicipar Pegor (AGN-150998) in Patients With Neovascular  Age-Related Macular Degeneration – Cedar, Phase 3

2015-2017

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
A Phase 2 Randomized, Investigator-Masked, Comparator-controlled Trial to Evaluate The Safety and Efficacy of NS2 Eye Drops in Patients with Anterior Uveitis, Phase 2

2015-2016

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Ocriplasmin Research to Better Inform Treatment (ORBIT), Phase 4 study

2014-2016

Principal Investigator, Central MA Retina and Uveitis Center
Valley Eye Physicians and Surgeons
A randomized, double-masked and placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sarilumab administered subcutaneously every 2 weeks in patients with Non-infectious, Intermediate, Posterior or Pan-Uveitis (NIU): SATURN, Phase 2

2014-2016



Research Grants

Completed

National Eye Institute           5K08EY17383           Gisela Velez, PI
Pharmacologic Inhibitors of PDGFR alpha for the treatment of PVR
PDGFR alpha has been identified as a crucial player in the pathogenesis of PVR.  The purpose of this grant is to perform efficacy and safety studies on pharmacologic inhibitors of PDGFR alpha that could potentially be developed into clinical therapies of this disease in humans.
Total, direct & indirect costs: $1,063,260
Role:  Principal Investigator, 75% effort

2007- 2012

Associate Investigator, National Eye Institute
Treatment of non-infectious, intermediate and posterior uveitis with humanized anti-TAC monoclonal antibody therapy: phase I and II study

1998-2000

Associate Investigator, National Eye Institute
Treatment of the ocular complications of Behcet’s disease with Humanized anti-TAC monoclonal antibody

1998-2000

Associate Investigator, Glaser-Murphy Retina Treatment Center
A phase III randomized, multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled parallel group study of Tin Ethyl Etiopurin (SnET2) Photodynamic Therapy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration

2000-2001

Associate Investigator, Glaser-Murphy Retina Treatment Center
A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-masked study comparing the safety and efficacy of membrane differential filtration to a placebo treatment in patients with non-exudative age-related macular degeneration

2000-2001