23 Clinical Vision Research Center Creates the Future of Eye Care There’s certainly no shortage of ingenuity at the College’s Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC). Back in 2013, the Graduate Center for Vision Research’s Dr. Stewart Bloomfield joined forces with vice president and dean for academic affairs Dr. David Troilo and faculty member Dr. Kathryn Richdale to create the CVRC, which partners with industries, foundations and the government to conduct research dedicated to advancing eye care. “The ability to collaborate with the various faculty researchers on myriad projects is exciting,” says Kristen Fry, OD, MS, FAAO, director of the CVRC. “The SUNY community, faculty, staff and students are supportive of our research efforts and refer prospective study participants. Many personally get involved in our research studies.” Dr. Fry—who graduated from SUNY Optometry in 1998—took over as director of the Center in 2016 after a two-year stint as associate director. She oversees staff research and manages relationships with faculty researchers and industry sponsors. It’s a position that is tailor-made for her career. “I have always been interested in research, and the opportunity to influence patient care through participation in a clinical trial has seemed an ideal way to utilize my optometry degree,” she says. Before SUNY Optometry, Dr. Fry concentrated her efforts on investigator-initiated, NIH-funded and multicenter device and drug clinical trials. She spent more than a decade as a sub-investigator/coordinator for investigator-initiated and FDA-sponsored clinical investigations at the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute in Teaneck, New Jersey, and served as director of clinical research at Ophthalmic Consultants at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Fry’s priority is to use the CVRC to improve patient care. “I would like to take advantage of my human research background to help oversee the research process so it is conducted ethically and within the confines of the regulations and that the results of such research activities may ultimately lead to benefits in patient care,” she says. The CVRC has already conducted more than 40 studies in cornea, contact lenses, lens care products, dry eye medication and ophthalmic devices. And its database includes more than 2,000 people who are game to participate in research. Dr. Kristen Fry
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