Department News
Dr. Sandeep Jain receives Research Career Development Award from the National Eye Institute
Sandeep Jain, MD, an assistant professor and attending physician with the cornea service at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, has been awarded the Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08) from the National Eye Institute (NEI). This $1.3 million award will provide support and “protected time” to Dr. Jain for an intensive, mentored research career development experience in the field of ocular neurobiology over a period of five years (2/1/2009 to 1/31/2014).
In July 2008, Dr. Jain received a $120,000 Career Development Award from the Warren H. and Clara Cole Foundation Advisory Board, administered by the American College of Surgeons. The WCCAB funding enabled Dr. Jain to conduct the ground work for his successful NEI proposal.
Dr. Jain’s proposed research will help delineate cellular and molecular nerve guidance cues that play a role in the proper growth and patterning of axons during nerve regeneration in the cornea. Many ocular and systemic diseases or trauma can cause an impairment of corneal innervation leading to a decrease or absence of corneal sensation and decreased tear production. Common causes of corneal anesthesia like viral infection (herpes simplex and herpes zoster), chemical burns, physical injuries, and corneal surgery (LASIK, Corneal transplantation) can cause severe dry eyes and ocular surface disease. “Because of his clinical training in ophthalmology, and because of his interest in pharmacologic and molecular therapies for modulating corneal wound healing, Dr. Jain brings to this research project the potential for eventual translation of basic knowledge to patients with severe dry eyes and ocular surface disease”, says Dr. Beatrice Yue, Thanis A. Field professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UIC and Dr. Jain’s primary mentor.
“The clinical and research faculty and the research facilities of University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary provide for an ideal and supportive setting conducive to scientific growth and an ethos and commitment to excellence. With the research support provided by Warren and Clara Cole Foundation and the National Eye Institute and with the guidance of my mentors, Drs. Beatrice Yue, Dimitri Azar, Naohiko Ikegaki and James Zieski, I look forward to an exciting phase in my research career development," says Dr. Jain.
One of the Best Doctors in America for 2007-2008, Dr. Jain received his Ophthalmology residency training at Columbia University’s Harkness Eye Institute and Cornea fellowship training at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. His clinical practice focuses on the management of patients with dry eye disease. “We are proud to have Dr. Jain as a faculty member in the Cornea Service at the UIC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual sciences. One of Dr. Jain’s great strengths is his ability to conceptualize new ideas and innovative solutions to research problems. Our long-term goal is to provide Dr. Jain with the intellectual and technical facilities to carry out important translational research as an independent researcher when the present research career development program is complete,” says Dr. Dimitri Azar, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The National Eye Institute (NEI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is the Federal government's lead agency for vision research that leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. For information on NEI, NEI-funded research, eye disorders and NEI Grants Program, go to www.nei.nih.gov. For information on Warren H. and Clara Cole Advisory Board (WCCAB) Career Development Award contact Kate Early, American College of Surgeons, KEarly@facs.org