Bio
Alexandra Benavente received her degree in Optometry and Optics from the College of Science and Medicine in Valladolid, Spain; MS in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science from the University of Manchester, UK; and PhD in Vision Science from Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
During her first years at SUNY, Dr. Benavente was a Research Associate funded through the SUNY Research Foundation and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the college. She later took the position of Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Education, followed by Associate Clinical Professor and Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. She is the Principal Investigator of her federally and industry-funded research lab, focused on identifying the mechanisms that lead to myopia and associated blinding consequences. She has been a part of the clinical research effort at the college through the Clinical Vision Research Center from its creation in 2013, where she has been Principal Investigator in a multi-center research study and sub-Investigator in more than 20 clinical studies.
Since joining SUNY Optometry, Sandra has published 28 peer-reviewed research papers, 2 book chapters and over 85 conference abstracts on her doctoral research, work on experimental myopia models and ongoing multidisciplinary collaborations.
She has served as Chair of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting Program Committee (Anatomy section), and is an appointed member of the Scientific Committees of the American Academy of Optometry, and International Myopia Conference.
She has received the Josh Wallman Memorial Award/Zeiss Young Scientist Award in Myopia Research at the International Myopia Conference, and the American Academy of Optometry Professional Career Development Award.
RESEARCH SUPPORT
- Principal Investigator. NIH R01 EY034086. Myopia and Glaucoma, linked via Mechanotransduction Mechanisms Affecting the Ganglion Cell Complex (July 2023-July 2027)
- Co-Investigator. NIH R01 EY033824. Molecular Mechanisms of Emmetropization and Experimental Myopia at Single Cell Resolution (Sep.2022-Sep 2026). PI: David Troilo PhD
- Principal Investigator. American Academy of Optometry: Career Development Award. Development of a Novel Model of Progressive Myopia (Jan 2019-Jan 2021).
- Mentor/Host. Fulbright Fellowship awarded to Dr. Dimitra Makrynioti. Fighting dry eye syndrome in high myopia with novel contact lens materials (Oct 2019- 2020).
- Principal Investigator. Schnurmacher Institute for Vision Research. Effects of low dose atropine on choroidal thickness (May 2018-May 2019).
- Co-Investigator. Paracelsus Medical University Rise Project. Ultrastructural Analysis of the Choroid-Sclera Interface. PI: Falk Schroedl (June 2017- June 2018).
- Consultant. Singapore Eye Research Institute & Johnson & Johnson Vision: Star-Janssen Grant. Light and outdoor patterns for the prevention of myopia. PI: Seang Mei Saw (Jan. 2018- 2023)
- Mentor/Host. American Optometric Foundation Jill and George Mertz Fellowship awarded to Dr. Pauline Kang. Temporal characteristics of simultaneous foveal correction and peripheral myopic defocus (2016).
- Principal Investigator. Johnson & Johnson Vision. Myopia Development and Novel Contact Lens Designs. (Dec. 2012- Dec. 2017)
- Principal Investigator. Schnurmacher Institute for Vision Research. Use of a Modified CISS to Assess Symptoms in Patients with Accommodative Dysfunction (multi-centered study) (May 2013-May 2015).
- Consultant. NEI-R21 EY023720. Modulating Ocular/Retinal Blood Flow and Visual Function in Retinitis Pigmentosa. (Sep. 2013-Sep. 2014). PI: Ava Bittner OD PhD FAAO. Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute
- Post-doctoral Research Associate. NIH R01 EY11228: Accommodation and the Development of Refractive Error (Feb. 2009-March 2013). PI: David Troilo PhD
