Clinical Researchers – Biographies

Benjamin Backus, PhD Dr. Benjamin Backus is currently a Research Staff Member at SUNY College of specializing in visual neuroscience. He has served as a Principal Investigator on many studies and mentored a number of Masters, PhD and post students. He has been Chair of the Graduate Program Committee at the Graduate Center for Vision Research since 2008. Dr. Backus received his PhD from UC Berkeley and continued his post‐doctoral research at Stanford . He recently co‐developed an NIH funded clinical trial titled Light Deprivation Utilized to Mitigate Amblyopia (LUMA), which tested the effects of binocular visual deprivation as a pre‐ treatment to enhance perceptual learning during treatment of adults with amblyopia. Alexandra Benavente‐Perez, MCOptom, MS, PhD Dr. Alexandra Benavente‐Perez is currently an Associate Clinical at SUNY College of Optometry as well as a Research Staff Member where serves as a Principal investigator on clinical trials and has mentored over a dozen undergraduate, OD and Master students. She specializes in visually guided eye growth and development/control. Dr. Benavente‐Perez received her of Optometry from the University of Valladolid in Spain, Masters in Investigative & Vision from UMIST in Manchester, UK and her PhD in Vision Sciences from in Birmingham, UK. She completed her post‐doctoral research training at City University in London and at SUNY College of Optometry. She is a of the American of Optometry and a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Kenneth Ciuffreda, OD, PhD Dr. Kenneth Ciuffreda is currently a distinguished teaching professor at SUNY College of Optometry for both undergraduate and graduate classes. He has served as a Principal/Sub Investigator on many clinical trials. His research focuses on normal and abnormal oculomotor systems. Dr. Ciuffreda received his Optometry Doctorate at the Massachusetts College of Optometry and his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. He is currently a member and fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), a Fellow and Binocular Vision Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the Neuro‐Optometric Rehabilitation Association and a member of the North American Brain Injury Association.

Mitchell W. Dul, OD, MS Dr. Mitchell Dul is currently a professor at SUNY College of Optometry and is the past director of the SUNY Institute. He has received NIH and industry funding for glaucoma clinical research. His current research is focused on applications of psychophysical models to visual disorders, ocular biometry, device testing and outcome measures. He has mentored over two dozen students completing their PhD, post‐docs and Masters degrees at the College. Dr. Dul completed his Doctor of Optometry and Masters at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and completed his residency at the FDR VA in Montrose, NY. He is a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow member of the National of Practice; a member of the board of directors of the Imaging and Perimetric Society; member of the American Academy of Optometry; Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO); American Optometric Association; and is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

Danielle Iacono, OD Dr. Danielle Iacono is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) staff member and Supervisor for the Anterior Segment and Clinical Research Externship at SUNY College of Optometry. She serves as a Principal/Sub Investigator on many CVRC clinical trials. Dr. Iacono received her Optometry Doctorate and completed her residency in Primary Eye Care at SUNY College of Optometry. She recently helped to develop the externship program at SUNY College of Optometry for fourth year optometry students interested in clinical research of which she is the supervisor. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Sharon Keh, OD Dr. Sharon Keh is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) staff member and preceptor in the Contact at SUNY College of Optometry. She is an active Investigator on many CVRC supported trials with an interest in contact , lens care products as well as anterior segment diseases. Dr. Keh received her Optometry Doctorate from NOVA Southeastern University, completed her residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at SUNY College of Optometry and is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Daniel Laby, MD Dr. Daniel Laby is currently the Director of the Sports and Performance Vision Center at SUNY College of Optometry and serves as a Staff Ophthalmologist for a number of professional baseball organizations. He received his from George Washington University and completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Laby has been an investigator with the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG), served as the Chair of the Data Safety Monitoring Committee for an industry sponsored multicenter clinical trial and is a member of the College’s Institutional Review Board.

Tracy Nguyen, OD, PhD Dr. Tracy Nguyen is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the SUNY College of Optometry. She receives NIH funding for her research on corneal disease (K08‐EY019537: Corneal Endothelium Transport) which focuses on corneal dystrophies and dry eye disease. Dr. Nguyen is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, member of the Diversity Initiative Committee for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and member of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry Committee.

Mark Rosenfield, MCOptom, PhD Dr. Mark Rosenfield is currently a professor at the SUNY College and the 2015 recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has served as a Principal Investigator on many government, industry and investigator‐initiated studies in the area of myopia and retinal defocus. Dr. Rosenfield received his Doctor of Optometry and PhD in Vision Sciences from the Aston University in the UK. He is currently a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry as well as a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the College of Optometrists (UK), the New York Academy of Optometrists and the Association of Optometric Educators.

Erica Schulman, OD Dr. Erica Schulman is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) staff member at SUNY College of Optometry. She currently serves as the Principal Investigator on the NIH funded study of Convergence Insufficiency – Reading and Attention Trial and has been an investigator on many CVRC clinical trials. Dr. Schulman received her Optometry Doctorate and completed her residency in and Rehabilitation at SUNY College of Optometry. She is certified with the American Board of Optometry and she has served as a consultant to the New York City Department of Health. Dr. Schulman specializes in pediatric optometry.

Marilyn Vricella, OD Dr. Marilyn Vricella is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY College of Optometry and serves as the Pediatric Optometry Residency Director. She currently serves as the site Principal Investigator for the SUNY College of Optometry for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and she has conducted research on many pediatric binocular vision eye conditions. Dr. Vricella received her Optometry Doctorate and completed her residency in Pediatrics and Infant Vision at SUNY College of Optometry. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Xiaoying Zhu, OD, MD, MS Dr. Xiaoying Zhu is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY College of Optometry as well as a CVRC staff member whose research focuses on myopia. She currently leads the Myopia Control for the University Eye Clinic and is an investigator for a number of the CVRC clinical trials. Dr. Zhu received her Optometry Doctorate from the of Optometry. She has a MD and Masters from the China Medical University and is currently preparing her PhD defense at the University of Newcastle in Australia.

Clinical Vision Research Center

Kristen Fry, OD, MS Dr. Kristen Fry serves as the Director of the Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) at the SUNY College of Optometry and oversees the research staff, and manages the relationships with faculty researchers and industry sponsors. Dr. Fry is a graduate of the SUNY College of Optometry where she also received a Master’s Degree in Vision . She has extensive experience in investigator‐initiated, NIH‐funded, industry‐sponsored, and multi‐center device and drug clinical trials. Dr. Fry also holds the position of Human Research Compliance Officer at the College. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the Association of Certified Research Professionals (ACRP) and Public Responsibility in and Research (PRIM&R). L. Wayne Spencer, CCRC Mr. Wayne Spencer is the Associate Director of CVRC at the SUNY College of Optometry where he (oversees all regulatory matters for sponsored human subject research) functions in quality oversight, quality assurance and control for all clinical research run through the CVRC. Mr. Spencer received his Bachelor’s degree from City University of New York and Associates in Applied Science in Vision Care Technology form the New York City College of Technology. He is a member of the Association of Certified Research Professionals (ACRP) and maintains certification as a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator. Valerie Leung, BOptom, BS Ms. Valerie Leung is the CVRC Office Manager and she has served as a Clinical Research Coordinator on a number of CVRC trials. Ms. Leung is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, receiving a Bachelor of Optometry and in Vision Science. She was a practicing optometrist in Australia prior to pursing a clinical research career in the . Ms. Leung is a member of the Association of Certified Research Professionals (ACRP). Krystle Kang, BS Krystle Kang is a CVRC Clinical Research Coordinator. Ms. Kang received a Bachelor’s of Science from Rutgers University. She has been a coordinator on a number of CVRC trials and coordinates outreach activities to help with study recruitment, community engagement and subject retention strategies.

CVRC Research Investigators  Alexandra Benavente‐Perez, MCOptom, MS, PhD  Danielle Iacono, OD  Sharon Keh, OD  Erica Schulman, OD  Xiaoying Zhu, OD, MD, MS

Photo courtesy of Louie Bacosa. SUNY College of Optometry