Clinical Research

Published faculty research 

Our faculty's research efforts allow us to advance our techniques and discover the appropriate treatments for different patient populations.  Through collaborative research, we're making improvements in the prevention and treatment of major blinding disorders worldwide.

Cornea Image Analysis Reading Center (CIARC)

Established in 1989 at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, the Cornea Image Analysis Reading Center (CIARC)formerly the Specular Microscopy Reading Center (SMRC)has participated in numerous corporate and federal clinical studies requiring standardized determination of corneal endothelial cell density and morphology from specular and confocal images and more recently qualitative and quantitative assessment of the corneal epithelium and stroma from confocal images.

The CIARC is a shared resource of the hospital and its academic partner, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The center is led by Jonathan Lass, MD—the Charles I. Thomas Professor, Chairman of the Case Western Reserve University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Director of the UH Eye Institute—and Beth Ann Benetz, CRA, FOPS, technical director and associate professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

To contact the CIARC, please email ciarc@case.edu.


Retinal Diseases Image Analysis Reading Center (REDIARC)

The Retinal Diseases Image Analysis Reading Center (REDIARC) was founded in 1999 by Dr. Suber S. Huang. The primary function of the REDIARC is to evaluate the pathology of fundus photographs, fluorescein angiograms, or other retinal imaging modalities for prospective clinical trials, including evaluation of fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms, certification of photographers and clinical sites, and analysis of study results.

The REDIARC is located on the University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UH CMC) campus, next to the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus, and is comprised of employees that are employed through either the hospital or university.

Efforts of the center are directed through the Principal Investigator, Suber S. Huang, MD, MBA, in conjunction with the Technical Director, Beth Ann Benetz, MA, CRA, FOPS. The REDIARC is governed by the University Hospitals Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is fully accredited by AAHRPP and is located in Lakeside building, Room 1400 on the UHCMC campus.

Staff follows the regulations set forth by Good Clinical Practices (GCP), International Conference on Harmonization (ICH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The REDIARC is an experienced Reading Center that has analyzed images for over 2500 patients, totaling more than 8000 study visits in the past 10 years.

In the course of those studies, the REDIARC has certified more than 425 clinical sites and their photographers in 23 countries around the world.

To contact the REDIARC, please email rediarc@case.edu.


Vision Research Coordinating Center (VRCC)

The Vision Research Coordinating Center (VRCC) is a joint collaboration established in 2004 between the UH Eye Institute and the CWRU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The center was established in 2004 to coordinate all ophthalmic clinical trials contracted through UH or CWRU.

We are currently conducting clinical trials related to retina, cornea, contact lens, and pediatric ophthalmology research. 

To contact the VRCC, please email vrcc@case.edu.

 

Learn more about University Hospitals Eye Institute.