(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — The SUNY College of Optometry recently has been named as the most cost-effective research program in the SUNY system, according to the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (RF)’s 2021 Financial Risk Accountability report. The report includes a multi-year trend analysis of each campus from fiscal year 2019 through 2022, and highlights College of Optometry as achieving the highest level of accountability, both scientifically and fiscally.
SUNY Optometry’s renowned faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for cutting-edge research in eye and vision science. The College remains committed to expanding its research efforts and, as such, continues to search for new outstanding vision scientists to bring on board.
“Being atop the Research Foundation’s biannual report indicates something we at SUNY Optometry have known for a long time: our research programs are strong, scientifically productive, and financially healthy,” said Dr. David Troilo, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY College of Optometry. “We look forward to continued growth of our groundbreaking vision and clinical research programs leading to more discovery and further improvement in patient care.”
Research at the college is organized under the Graduate Center for Vision Research (GCVR). The GCVR oversees all programs supporting basic, translational, and clinical research on the eye and vision at the college, including the College’s graduate programs for PhD and MS students as well as OD-MS, Residency-MS, OD-PhD, and Residency-PhD joint degree programs.
SUNY College of Optometry’s human subject research program is accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs.
Current research investigations can be classified into the following areas:
- Molecular, cellular biology and genetics
- Visual neuroscience
- Eye growth and refraction
- Ocular pathology and visual dysfunction
- Clinical trials
RF is the largest comprehensive university-connected research foundation in the country. It serves the State University of New York by providing essential administrative services that enable SUNY faculty to focus their efforts on the education of students and the performance of life-changing research across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, engineering, physical science, energy, computer science, and social sciences.