Request for Funding
Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011

All descriptions must contain enough detail to permit an assessment of the problem that is to be addressed and the methodologies that are to be employed. Please be careful to outline the role that the student will play in the project that is described. Please ensure that all relevant approval numbers (IRB, IACUC) are provided.

Mentor:                       W. Matthew Petroll   
Department:               Ophthalmology
Room number:           E7.224
Mail Code:                 9057
Phone number:          648-7216
E-mail:                        matthew.petroll@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title:                Wide-Field Corneal Imaging using an In Vivo Confocal Microscope

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):      

Animal subjects IACUC approved project number (where applicable): 2010-0230    

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Animal-based

Brief Description of Project:

Since the mid 1990s, various forms of confocal microscopy have been used to assess wound healing, toxicity and infection of the human cornea.  Our laboratory recently modified a laser scanning confocal microscope, to allow significantly improved imaging of the cornea in vivo. A unique advantage of this microscope is the ability to make on-line 2-D composite images, which dramatically expand the effective field of view. Before applying this technique to patient imaging, we need to optimize the scanning protocol and image analysis procedure for the instrument in an animal model.  The corneas of normal New Zealand White rabbits will be scanned by the student using the modified microscope with the goal of establishing these parameters. Briefly, the student will focus the microscope on the anterior layer of corneal keratocytes, and begin on-line composite image acquisition. During the acquisition, the objective will be moved horizontally and vertically so that overlapping images covering a wide area of the cornea can be collected.  The student will then evaluate different image analysis approaches for stitching these images together using Image J.

 

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

  1. Kovoor TA, Kim AS, McCulley JP, Cavanagh HD, Jester JV, Budge AC, Petroll WM.  Evaluation of the corneal effects of topical ophthalmic fluoroquinolones using in vivo confocal microscopy.  Eye Contact Lens  30:90-94, 2004.
  2. Ly LT, Cavanagh HD, Petroll WM.  Confocal assessment of the effects of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones on the cornea. Eye Contact Lens  32:161-165, 2006.
  3. Ly LT, McCulley JP, Verity SM, Cavanagh HD, Petroll WM.  Evaluation of intrastromal lipid deposits following intacs implantation using in vivo confocal microscopy. Eye Contact Lens 32:211-215, 2006.
  4. Petroll WM, Goldberg D, Lindsey SS, Kelley PS, Cavanagh HD, Bowman RW, Parmar DN, Verity SM, McCulley JP. Confocal assessment of the Corneal Response to intracorneal lens insertion and LASIK with flap creation using IntraLase®.    J Cataract Refract Surg 32:1119-1128, 2006.
  5. Hu MY, McCulley JP, Cavanagh HD, Bowman RW, Verity SM, Mootha VV, Petroll WM.  Comparison of the corneal response to LASIK with flap creation using the IntraLase FS15 and FS30 lasers: Clinical and confocal microscopy findings. J Cataract Refract Surg 33:673-681, 2007
  6. Lindsey SS, McCulley JP, Cavanagh HD, Verity SM, Bowman RW, Petroll WM. Prospective evaluation of PermaVision intracorneal implants using in vivo confocal microscopy.  J Refract Surg 33:673-681, 2007.
  7. Petroll WM, Ma L, Ly LT, Vishwanath M. Analysis of the pattern of sub-cellular force generation by corneal fibroblasts following Rho activation. Eye Contact Lens 34:65-70, 2008.
  8. Petroll WM, Ma L, Kim A, Ly L, Vishwanath M. Dynamic assessment of fibroblast mechanical activity during Rac-induced cell spreading in 3-D culture.  J Cell Physiol 217:162-171, 2008.
  9. Lin, X, Ma L, Petroll AM. A 3-D Culture Model for Assessing the Mechanics of Fibroblast Migration Through Fibrin Matrix (ARVO abstract, 2010).
  10. Petroll WM, Weaver M, Vaidya S, McCulley JP, Cavanagh HD. Quantitative Corneal Imaging In Vivo Using a Modified HRT- RCM Confocal Microscope (ARVO abstract, 2011).