The Clinical Research Unit at Duke Eye Center is Delivering Hope to Patients Now, and in the Future
For more than three consecutive decades, innovations in research and a fundamental commitment to patient care have resulted in Duke Ophthalmology being ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report. The Clinical Research Unit (CRU) at Duke Eye Center plays a meaningful role in the department earning this perennial accolade and is a vital contributor to the overall mission of curing eye disease worldwide. Insights gained from the CRU’s patient-oriented studies position our acclaimed specialists at the forefront of ophthalmology and equip them in their discovery of new methods of detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention; delivering hope to patients of all ages who are battling challenging eye conditions.
“Duke Eye Center is really special. There is an amazing group of clinician scientists here – our research is always ethical, something I can be proud of, and I know is changing the world of science and patient care,” says Cynthia Toth, MD, Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Chair of Clinical Research.
Every member of the Duke Eye Center CRU shares a passion for partnering with patients to drive research that leads to continuous improvements in the standards of ophthalmic care and disease prevention. With over 40 clinical research faculty, the CRU currently has over 100 approved studies (and counting) of which more than a third have active participants, and another dozen are being guided through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval process.
Yet, it's patients — in search of better eye health — who generously volunteer to take part in trials that make it possible for the physician scientists leading the Duke Ophthalmology CRU to conduct groundbreaking investigations. From retrospective departmental studies to federal, foundation and industry-sponsored programs across specialties including pediatric ophthalmology, corneal disease, glaucoma and retina diseases, each patient and their family is a catalyst in the discovery of promising new treatments and cures for eye disease.
Each proposed study within the expanding CRU portfolio undergoes a comprehensive review by a respected group comprised of CRU leadership, members of the Duke Eye Center finance team and a faculty advisory board. Together, they authorize studies and cultivate stakeholder confidence in the scientific integrity, quality, academic productivity, regulatory compliance and financial viability of all research conducted by the department. Collectively, this cross-functional panel empowers the life-changing work of our dedicated clinical research investigators and willing patient participants.
Proximity Matters
The old saying, “location is everything” certainly rings true for the Duke Eye Center CRU. Situated strategically amidst Duke University Hospital (ranked #1 in the region) and the Duke University School of Medicine (ranked in the Top 3 for research), the CRU has a distinct advantage over other research programs. Our association with Duke Medical Center simplifies pre-site selection visits with potential study sponsors; assuring them we have premium access to the resources required to complete the studies they value. This connection also enables us to grow, conduct more complex studies and collaborate across a range of other disciplines and study groups that have an ophthalmic component. For example, it is common for oncology drugs to produce adverse effects on patient vision, therefore members of the Duke Eye Center CRU work in partnership with the Oncology CRU to support these patients and help advance their studies.
Furthermore, the academic expertise of our medical directors and our association with other disciplines within the School of Medicine uniquely establishes the CRU as a leader, increasing the probability and complexity of future studies.
“Our connection to the hospital, and more than a dozen specialized clinical research units within the Duke University School of Medicine, creates unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and allows us to work in close partnership with other Duke researchers,” says Eleonora Lad, MD, PhD, Director of the Duke Eye Center CRU. “Ultimately, we all benefit from access to adjacent research studies; and, it’s these connections that offer us the chance to take a holistic, one-on-one approach to patient care; recognizing that ophthalmic conditions can often have a relationship to other health concerns.”
A Culture of Caring
“I’ve rarely seen the level of hands-on, team involvement that we have. Everyone who works at the Duke Eye Center CRU truly cares for the patients and their families,” shares Lad. “Each of us has a genuine compassion for every patient and an enthusiasm to deliver impactful research today, and for the future.”
Supporting the CRU’s regulatory and clinical studies, is a dedicated team of Clinical Research Specialists and Coordinators made up of practitioners from diverse backgrounds in both research and hands-on ophthalmic patient care. It’s this unique dynamic that fosters a people-focused culture committed to compassionately conducting studies, while providing treatments that both raise the standard of care and lead to disease prevention.
“We care for the whole person, and look after them as if they’re family,” notes Sarah Jones, Research Practice Manager, Duke Eye Center CRU. “Our coordinators understand that details matter. For instance, we make every effort to limit the amount of time and travel required of each participant by aligning their clinical research visits with their clinical care visits. Likewise, we work deliberately to expedite the series of next steps needed to help improve their vision.”
Each research coordinator assumes ownership of their studies from the start; carrying them step-by-step through a systematic process and on to completion. Most importantly, the CRU at Duke Eye Center delivers a differentiated level of individualized attention to each patient, carefully monitoring their treatment and supporting them throughout the duration of the study.
A Vision for the Future
What does the future look like for the Duke Eye Center CRU?
It looks like more.
Increased capacity for more studies, more participants, a growing complexity in the research we conduct and above all, enhanced levels of care, new treatments and improved patient outcomes; all leading to cures for some of today’s most debilitating eye diseases.
Learn more about the Duke Eye Center CRU
CRU Leadership and Staff
Eleonora Lad, MD, PhD CRU Director
Sarah Jones – Research Practice Manager
Carol White – Assistant Research Practice Manager
Ethel Cuenca – Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
Olivia Everett – Clinical Research Coordinator
Victoria Griffiths - Clinical Research Coordinator
Terry Hawks - Clinical Research Coordinator
Iris Navarro - Clinical Research Coordinator
Rebecca Schmidt - Clinical Research Coordinator
Malina Sexton - Clinical Research Coordinator
Katia Soleil - Clinical Research Coordinator
Alice Ventura - Clinical Research Coordinator
Corren White - Clinical Research Coordinator
Rylee Bledsoe – Clinical Research Specialist, Senior
Jacob Craft - Clinical Research Specialist, Senior
Nathan Hamilton - Clinical Research Specialist, Senior
Elizabeth Pawlica - Clinical Research Specialist, Senior