Michael B. Yang, MD, FAAP

Dr. Yang served as site principal investigator (PI) for the Postnatal Growth and Retinopathy of Prematurity (G-ROP) multicenter study. This study is analyzing various risk factors for incorporation into a highly accurate risk model that can help predict which premature infants will develop severe ROP. This allows the elimination of lower risk infants from screening altogether, or for less frequent screening. With Patricia Cobb’s assistance, over 1,200 premature infants from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and University of Cincinnati Medical Center enrolled in the retrospective portion of the study completed in August 2015. Enrollment is ongoing for the prospective arm of the study with Cincinnati Children's once again contributing among the highest numbers of enrolled patients in the study.

Dr. Yang was also site PI for the phase 1 trial of Bevacizumab Treatment for Severe ROP. Bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) antibody, is an effective treatment for severe ROP. However, after injection into the eye, the drug can escape into the peripheral circulation, and potentially affect the development of the brain, lung, kidneys and bone. Consequently, finding the lowest dose of bevacizumab that is effective in treating ROP in this dose de-escalation trial is important for lessening potential developmental morbidities and determining a dose for future comparison trials.

Fumika Hamada, PhD

Dr. Hamada’s laboratory studies circadian rhythm of body temperature (body temperature rhythm). Body temperature rhythm is critical for the maintenance of homeostasis functions, such as metabolic energy generation and sleep. Her lab's progress has been remarkable as their work reveals the hitherto unknown molecular mechanisms underlying body temperature rhythm and has led to the first identification of a molecule that links circadian clock to body temperature rhythm. In the past year, Dr. Hamada has presented her work at Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory meeting, Neurobiology of Drosophila and The Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR).

Richard A. Lang, PhD

Dr. Lang’s major research interests include early eye development, vascular development, the developmental and homeostatic function of myeloid cells and more recently, the role of light response pathways in development. In this latter project area, the Lang lab has been investigating the function of two atypical opsins, OPN3 and OPN5. In collaboration with the Van Gelder lab at the University of Washington, the Lang lab has shown that OPN5 is the light detector required for photoentrainment of a local circadian clock in the retina. This year, Dr. Lang presented his work at Umeå University, Sweden, in their International Seminar Series; at the Society for Research in Biological Rhythms annual meeting; and at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Lang will also present at the 19th International Vascular Biology Meeting, Boston, and will deliver the Joan & Gordon Bergy Lecture at University of Washington, Seattle.