ACOE_Self-Study

• An annual Scholar’s Dinner is held each summer to which all faculty members, post -docs and students who have published in the previous year are invited and at which awards are given. • Administration reliably solicits faculty nominations in response to calls for recognition by the State University of New York (e.g., Chancellors Award for Research) • Department budgets include funding for travel and support for scholarly meetings. Since its last accreditation site-visit, the College has continued to invest in strengthening its research program by recruiting outstanding scientists who have been able to attract federal research funding. The College was recently awarded $750,000 from the State of New York, Empire Innovation Program, which allowed it to recruit Stefanie Wohl, PhD, who conducts cell and molecular biology in retinal research. The complete start-up package for this new faculty member, including laboratory renovations and support for a technician and grant students is estimated to be about $1.6 million. Clinical Vision Research Center In February 2013, the College established the Clinical Vision Research Center (CVRC) in response to the decision to increase clinical research called for in the 2008‐12 strategic plan. The CVRC continued as a priority in the 2013 – 2018 Strategic Plan as well. The CVRC is led by a director and assistant director, overseeing two clinical trial coordinators, and approximately 2.4 FTE of clinical faculty time as sub-investigators. The CVRC successfully advanced clinical research at the institution and attracted over 20 funded clinical studies since its creation. In 2016-17, the CVRC generated $665,629 in clinical research expenditures and in 2017-18 it generated $1,033,897. Notably, through the creation of the clinical research program and the work of the faculty and staff who oversee and assist it, the College has new opportunities for achieving its mission through the education and scholarly development of clinical faculty, strengthening the research partnership between the College research programs and the University Eye Center, and improving patient care though evidence-based practice. In 2018, the CVRC received a Performance and Quality Award from the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) for having the highest patient volume and an outstanding quality index. PEDIG is a collaborative network dedicated to facilitating multicenter clinical research in strabismus, amblyopia and other eye disorders that affect children. The network formed in 1997 and is funded by the National Eye Institute. There are more than 100 participating sites with 300+ pediatric ophthalmologists and pediatric optometrists in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom participating in the network. Translational Research Center In response to public demand for clinical applications of clinical research, the College applied for and received an Empire Innovation Grant to develop a translational research center. Identified as a new priority in the 2018 – 2023 Strategic Plan, the center will be developed by integrating the College’s current research programs with new construction and strategic hiring of established

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