Dr. Perez's laboratory focuses primarily on researching immunology of corneal transplantation and ocular Graft vs Host Disease (GVHD). Dr. Perez and his colleagues use a mouse model of corneal transplantation and Ocular GVHD that allows for translational research relevant to patients with penetrating keratoplasty and ocular GVHD. Dr. Perez's grant from the National Eye Institute supports his lab's work on the immunological mechanisms involved in high-risk corneal transplant rejection and OGVHD.
Members of Dr. Perez's lab have used the mouse eye as an in vivo imaging platform to study T cell recruitment and in situ activation. The aim of this work is to develop a translational research clinic to study the natural history of disease progression in ocular GVHD and to test the role of cytokines in this process. One of the most innovative aspects of this program is the multidisciplinary team—consisting of scientists from the ophthalmology, basic immunology, and oncology units—whose members work together to comprehensively tackle the research and care of patients with GVHD. The knowledge and development of potential new preventive therapies that is being generated in the laboratory will have a direct translational impact on the care of Duke Eye Center patients with GVHD.
Dr. Perez says that he joined Duke because it provides the perfect environment for clinician scientists to grow and establish translational research programs to cure diseases. Duke’s vision of the future in translational research led to the creation of the center to study inflammatory diseases of the eye. The components of his work support the goal to preserve vision through innovation, personalized medicine, and a passion for advancement of ophthalmic science.
Financial disclosure: I have/had an affiliation (financial or otherwise) with a commercial organization:
- Shire
- Allergan
- Eye Gate
- Trefoil
Sessions in which Victor L. Perez MD participates
Keynote Speaker | Invité.e d'honneur
Victor L. Perez MD (Participant)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building) - Room 803
Dr. Allan Slomovic, MSc, MD, FRCSC (Moderator)
Victor L. Perez MD (Participant)
Dr. Soosan Jacob, MS, FRCS, DNB, MNAMS (Participant)
Dr. Isabelle Brunette, MD, FRCSC (Moderator)
Victor L. Perez MD (Participant)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building) - Room 801
Yvonne Buys (Moderator)
Iqbal (Ike) Ahmed, MD (Participant)
Dr. Vivian Yin, MD, MPH, FRCSC (Moderator)
Maria Aparecida Onuki Haddad MD, PhD (Participant)
Jonathan D. Solomon MD (Participant)
Dr. Hunter Cherwek MD (Participant)
Nisha Acharya MD, MS (Participant)
Felipe A. Medeiros MD, PhD (Participant)
Dr. Guillermo Rocha, MD, FRCSC, FACS (Participant)
Victor L. Perez MD (Participant)
Victor L. Perez MD (Participant)