Department News
Anthony Adamis MD, expert on angiogenesis, joins Department
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences proudly announces that Anthony P. Adamis, MD, joined our faculty as Adjunct Professor on August 16, 2008. Dr. Adamis, president and CEO of Jerini Ophthalmic, has an extensive research background and will be involved with the research and education programs of the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary (IEEI). “It is an honor to join a department with such an illustrious history and exciting future,” said Dr. Adamis. “I look forward to working with Dr. Dimitri Azar to further the research, educational and philanthropic missions of the IEEI.”
Dr. Adamis is recognized as one of the best clinician scientists in the United States, with his research focusing on the mechanisms of ocular vascular disease and ocular drug delivery. Perhaps best known for his co-discovery of the role of VEGF in ocular disease, his work has provided additional insight into diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization, and angiogenesis. Indeed, he has a keen ability to conduct translational research in the area of ocular angiogenesis with significant clinical applications.
Recently, Dr. Adamis was awarded The Ernst H. Bárány Prize for his distinguished work in the field of ocular pharmacology. This award is presented to a distinguished scientist who has made outstanding contributions in research that increases our understanding of ocular pharmacology for retinal diseases.
Prior to running Jerini Ophthalmic, Dr. Adamis was co-founder, chief scientific officer and executive vice president of research and development at Eyetech Pharmaceuticals. He was instrumental in leading the team that developed and launched the first anti-VEGF drug in ophthalmology. Previously, Dr. Adamis served on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School for 13 years, where he was an NIH-supported co-Director of the Ocular Angiogenesis Laboratory.
In addition, Dr. Adamis has served as a reviewer for some of the most prestigious journals in the ophthalmology field, as well as in science and medicine, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature. He is a prolific publisher, with many articles that are considered seminal works within the field.
Dr. Adamis received his MD with Honors from the University of Chicago and completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan. He performed his internship at Loyola University Medical Center and his cornea and external disease fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Adamis was trained and mentored by some of the best researchers in the field, including Dr. Judah Folkman.
Department Head Dr. Dimitri Azar expressed his enthusiasm for Dr. Adamis’ appointment. “Tony exemplifies the best in biomedical research, adhering to the most rigorous scientific method in pursuit of effective treatments for debilitating disease,” Dr. Azar said. “His research complements many of the projects already underway in our department, including basic science investigations into drug delivery, retinal disorders, and a clinical drug trials. We look forward to productive research collaborations.”
by Megan Pellegrini