Positions

Overview

  • Christopher A. Girkin, MD, MSPH, FACS is the chairman of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Ophthalmology and Chief Medical Officer for the Callahan Eye Hospital. After residency at UAB he completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute and was a Heed Glaucoma Fellow at the Hamilton Glaucoma Center at the University of California, San Diego. He joined the UAB faculty and founded the Department’s Glaucoma Service in 1999. Dr. Girkin has authored or coauthored over 160 journal articles and his research lab has been supported by Research to Prevent Blindness, Glaucoma Research Foundation, EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, the Center for Disease Control and the National Eye Institute. This research explores the mechanisms underlying the greater predilection to develop glaucomatous injury in individuals of African ancestry. Related hypothesis are explored through patient-oriented research, including morphometric and biomechanical studies of the lamina cribrosa and posterior sclera utilizing post-mortem human donor tissues along with in vivo imaging of the lamina cribrosa in the NEI-sponsored African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES). His honors include being selected to the “Best Doctors in America” yearly from 2003 to 2016, the AAO Senior Achievement Award, two American Glaucoma Society Clinician-Scientist Awards, the Research to Prevent Blindness Clinician-Scientist Award, the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Eminent Scholar Award and the Ronald Lowe Medal.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2019 Glaucoma Patient Knowledge, Perceptions, and Predispositions for Telemedicine 2019
    2019 Factors influencing optical coherence tomography peripapillary choroidal thickness: A multicenter study 2019
    2019 Cyclic Pattern of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and Transient IOP Fluctuations in Nonhuman Primates Measured with Continuous Wireless Telemetry 2019
    2019 Genetic Architecture of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Individuals of African Descent: The African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study III 2019
    2019 The African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) III: Contribution of Genotype to Glaucoma Phenotype in African Americans: Study Design and Baseline Data 2019
    2019 The Magnitude of Intraocular Pressure Elevation Associated with Eye Rubbing 2019
    2018 Compliance with primary open-angle glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma suspect preferred practice patterns in a retail-based eye clinic 2018
    2018 In vivo optic nerve head mechanical response to intraocular and cerebrospinal fluid pressure: imaging protocol and quantification method 2018
    2018 Performance of Deep Learning Architectures and Transfer Learning for Detecting Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy in Fundus Photographs 2018
    2018 Genome-wide association study of primary open-angle glaucoma in continental and admixed African populations 2018
    2018 IOP, IOP transient impulse, ocular perfusion pressure, and mean arterial pressure relationships in nonhuman primates instrumented with telemetry 2018
    2018 A novel tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri) model of glaucoma 2018
    2018 Patient satisfaction with care in an urban tertiary referral academic glaucoma clinic in the us 2018
    2018 Factors influencing central lamina cribrosa depth: A multicenter study 2018
    2018 Detection of glaucoma progression in individuals of African descent compared with those of European descent 2018
    2018 Imaging the deep optic nerve: developing mechanistic biomarkers for glaucoma 2018
    2018 Is nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy due to choroidal compression of the prelaminar neurovascular compartment of the optic nerve head? 2018
    2018 Clinicopathologic Correlation of Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor–Treated Type 3 Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2018
    2017 Applying RE-AIM to evaluate two community-based programs designed to improve access to eye care for those at high-risk for glaucoma 2017
    2017 Higher contrast requirement for letter recognition and macular RGC+ layer thinning in glaucoma patients and older adults 2017
    2017 The magnitude and time course of IOP change in response to body position change in nonhuman primates measured using continuous IOP telemetry 2017
    2017 Slow reading in glaucoma: Is it due to the shrinking visual span in central vision? 2017
    2017 24-2 Visual Fields Miss Central Defects Shown on 10-2 Tests in Glaucoma Suspects, Ocular Hypertensives, and Early Glaucoma 2017
    2017 Rates of Local Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning before and after Disc Hemorrhage in Glaucoma 2017
    2017 Racioethnic differences in human posterior scleral and optic nerve stump deformation 2017
    2017 Variation in the three-dimensional histomorphometry of the normal human optic nerve head with age and race: Lamina cribrosa and peripapillary scleral thickness and position 2017
    2017 The Magnitude of Hypotony and Time Course of Intraocular Pressure Recovery Following Anterior Chamber Cannulation in Nonhuman Primates 2017
    2017 β-Zone parapapillary atrophy and rates of glaucomatous visual field progression African descent and glaucoma evaluation study 2017
    2017 Lamina cribrosa in glaucoma 2017
    2016 Association between Intraocular Pressure and Rates of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Loss Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography 2016
    2016 Measuring mean cup depth in the optic nerve head 2016
    2016 Peripapillary pachychoroid in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy 2016
    2016 Highly efficient delivery of adeno-associated viral vectors to the primate retina 2016
    2016 Macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer thickness in glaucomatous eyes with localized retinal nerve fiber layer defects 2016
    2016 African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) Racial Differences in Optic Disc Hemorrhage and Beta-Zone Parapapillary Atrophy 2016
    2016 Structural change can be detected in advanced-glaucoma eyes 2016
    2016 Displacement of the lamina cribrosa in response to acute intraocular pressure elevation in normal individuals of African and European descent 2016
    2016 Unsupervised Gaussian mixture-model with expectation maximization for detecting glaucomatous progression in standard automated perimetry visual fields 2016
    2016 Rate and pattern of rim area loss in healthy and progressing glaucoma eyes 2016
    2016 Feasibility, Patient Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Culturally Informed, Health Promotion Program to Improve Glaucoma Medication Adherence among African Americans: " G laucoma Management O ptimism for A frican Americans L iving with Glaucoma" (GOAL) 2016
    2016 Diagnostic Accuracy of the Spectralis and Cirrus Reference Databases in Differentiating between Healthy and Early Glaucoma Eyes 2016
    2016 Eye Care Quality and Accessibility Improvement in the Community (EQUALITY): impact of an eye health education program on patient knowledge about glaucoma and attitudes about eye care. 2016
    2015 Detecting glaucomatous change in visual fields: Analysis with an optimization framework 2015
    2015 High-magnitude and/or high-frequency mechanical strain promotes peripapillary scleral myofibroblast differentiation 2015
    2015 Eye Care Quality and Accessibility Improvement in the Community (EQUALITY) for adults at risk for glaucoma: study rationale and design 2015
    2015 A common variant near TGFBR3 is associated with primary open angle glaucoma 2015
    2015 Bruch's Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in a Normal White Population. A Multicenter Study 2015
    2015 Biogeographic Ancestry in the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES): Association With Corneal and Optic Nerve Structure 2015
    2015 Peripapillary choroidal thickness variation with age and race in normal eyes 2015
    2015 Binocular visual field impairment in glaucoma and at-fault motor vehicle collisions 2015
    2015 Bruch's Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in a Normal White Population: A Multicenter Study 2015
    2014 Variation of laminar depth in normal eyes with age and race 2014
    2014 Human scleral structural stiffness increases more rapidly with age in donors of African descent compared to donors of European descent 2014
    2014 Age-and race-related differences in human scleral material properties 2014
    2014 Predicting progression of glaucoma from rates of frequency doubling technology perimetry change 2014
    2014 Glaucomatous patterns in Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) perimetry data identified by unsupervised machine learning classifiers 2014
    2014 Evaluation of progressive neuroretinal rim loss as a surrogate end point for development of visual field loss in glaucoma 2014
    2014 Glaucoma progression detection using structural retinal nerve fiber layer measurements and functional visual field points 2014
    2014 Learning from data: Recognizing glaucomatous defect patterns and detecting progression from visual field measurements 2014
    2014 Material properties of the posterior human sclera 2014
    2014 Outcomes of shunt tube coverage with glycerol preserved cornea versus pericardium 2014
    2014 Rates of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in glaucoma suspect eyes 2014
    2014 Variation of the axial location of bruch's membrane opening with age, choroidal thickness, and race 2014
    2013 Differences in the region- and depth-dependent microstructural organization in normal versus glaucomatous human posterior sclerae 2013
    2013 A dual-modal retinal imaging system with adaptive optics 2013
    2013 The Relationship between Visual Field Index and Estimated Number of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Glaucoma 2013
    2013 Investigation of known genetic risk factors for primary open angle glaucoma in two populations of African ancestry 2013
    2013 Glaucoma medication adherence among African Americans: Program development 2013
    2013 The relationship between cup-to-disc ratio and estimated number of retinal ganglion cells 2013
    2013 Predicting progression in glaucoma suspects with longitudinal estimates of retinal ganglion cell counts 2013
    2013 Association between rates of binocular visual field loss and vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma 2013
    2013 Retinal ganglion cell count estimates associated with early development of visual field defects in glaucoma 2013
    2013 African descent and glaucoma evaluation study: Asymmetry of structural measures in normal participants 2013
    2013 Effect of an eye health education program on older African Americans' eye care utilization and attitudes about eye care 2013
    2012 Comparison of visual field severity classification systems for glaucoma 2012
    2012 Goniotomy versus circumferential trabeculotomy with an illuminated microcatheter in congenital glaucoma 2012
    2012 Progression of patterns (POP): A machine classifier algorithm to identify glaucoma progression in visual fields 2012
    2012 Low prevalence of myocilin mutations in an African American population with primary open-angle glaucoma 2012
    2012 Regional variations in mechanical strain in the posterior human sclera 2012
    2012 Determinants of medication adherence to topical glaucoma therapy 2012
    2012 Predicting glaucomatous progression in glaucoma suspect eyes using relevance vector machine classifiers for combined structural and functional measurements 2012
    2012 Circumferential trabeculotomy with an illuminated microcatheter in congenital glaucomas 2012
    2012 Integrating event- and trend-based analyses to improve detection of glaucomatous visual field progression 2012
    2012 Perspectives on biomechanical growth and remodeling mechanisms in glaucoma 2012
    2012 The human rhodopsin kinase promoter in an AAV5 vector confers rod- and cone-specific expression in the primate retina. 2012
    2011 Variation in optic nerve and macular structure with age and race with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography 2011
    2011 GALC deletions increase the risk of primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The role of mendelian variants in complex disease 2011
    2011 Profile and predictors of normal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness measured with frequency-domain optical coherence tomography 2011
    2011 The effects of race, optic disc area, age, and disease severity on the diagnostic performance of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography 2011
    2011 The post-illumination pupil response is reduced in glaucoma patients 2011
    2011 Ability of cirrus HD-OCT optic nerve head parameters to discriminate normal from glaucomatous eyes. 2011
    2010 Author Response: Linear relation between structure and function 2010
    2010 A comparison of rates of change in neuroretinal rim area and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in progressive glaucoma 2010
    2010 Post-illumination pupil response in subjects without ocular disease 2010
    2010 In response 2010
    2010 Optic disc morphology in open-angle glaucoma compared with anterior ischemic optic neuropathies 2010
    2009 Patterns of glaucomatous visual field loss in sita fields automatically identified using independent component analysis 2009
    2009 The association between self-reported glaucoma and Ginkgo biloba use 2009
    2009 Optical coherence tomography of the retina and optic nerve - A review 2009
    2009 Comparing the full-threshold and Swedish interactive thresholding algorithms for short-wavelength automated perimetry 2009
    2009 Artifacts on the optic nerve head analysis of the optical coherence tomography in glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes 2009
    2009 Visual function-specific perimetry to identify glaucomatous visual loss using three different definitions of visual field abnormality 2009
    2008 Trabectome (trabeculectomy - internal approach): Additional experience and extended follow-up 2008
    2008 Discussion 2008
    2008 Progressive normal-tension glaucoma 2008
    2008 Combined cataract extraction and trabeculotomy by the internal approach for coexisting cataract and open-angle glaucoma: initial results. 2008
    2008 Differences in optic nerve structure between individuals of predominantly African and European ancestry: Implications for disease detection and pathogenesis. 2008
    2008 Educating older African Americans about the preventive importance of routine comprehensive eye care 2008
    2007 3-D histomorphometry of the normal and early glaucomatous monkey optic nerve head: Lamina cribrosa and peripapillary scleral position and thickness 2007
    2007 Three-dimensional histomorphometry of the normal and early glaucomatous monkey optic nerve head: Neural canal and subarachnoid space architecture 2007
    2007 Effect of glaucomatous damage on repeatability of confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope, scanning laser polarimetry, and optical coherence tomography 2007
    2007 Selective perimetry in glaucoma diagnosis 2007
    2006 Comparison of the Moorfields Classification Using Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy and Subjective Optic Disc Classification in Detecting Glaucoma in Blacks and Whites 2006
    2006 Glaucomatous-like cupping associated with slow-growing supra-sellar intracranial lesions 2006
    2006 Neuroprotection: Does it work for all neurological diseases? 2006
    2006 Discrimination between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes using quantitative imaging devices and subjective optic nerve head assessment 2006
    2006 Perceived barriers to care and attitudes about vision and eye care: Focus groups with older African Americans and eye care providers 2006
    2006 A statistical approach to the evaluation of covariate effects on the receiver operating characteristic curves of diagnostic tests in glaucoma 2006
    2006 Agreement in assessing cup-to-disc ratio measurement among stereoscopic optic nerve head photographs, HRT II, and Stratus OCT 2006
    2005 Glaucoma after ocular contusion: A cohort study of the United States Eye Injury Registry 2005
    2005 Curbing our enthusiasm 2005
    2005 Hypothyroidism and open-angle glaucoma - Reply 2005
    2005 Hypothyroidism and open-angle glaucoma [1] (multiple letters) 2005
    2005 Memantine and Progressive Glaucoma 2005
    2005 A comparison of false-positive test results between the stratus OCT III and the GDx-VCC 2005
    2005 Axial length and optic disc size in normal eyes 2005
    2005 Differences in optic disc topography between black and white normal subjects 2005
    2005 Frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) 2005
    2004 Hypothyroidism and the development of open-angle glaucoma in a male population 2004
    2004 Radionecrosis of the inferior occipital lobes with altitudinal visual field loss after gamma knife radiosurgery 2004
    2004 Neuroprotection: Does it work for all neurological diseases? 2004
    2004 Subjective and objective optic nerve assessment in African Americans and whites 2004
    2004 Relationship between electrophysiological and structural measurements in normal and glaucomatous eyes. 2004
    2004 Relationship between structure of optic nerve/nerve fiber layer and functional measurements in glaucoma 2004
    2004 Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in African Americans 2004
    2003 Evaluating several sources of variability for standard and SWAP visual fields in glaucoma patients, suspects, and normals 2003
    2003 Thin corneas and the risk of progression. 2003
    2003 Racial differences in the association between optic disc topography and early glaucoma 2003
    2003 Environmental tilt illusion as the only symptom of a thalamic astrocytoma 2003
    2003 Comparing the IOP-lowering efficacy of bimatoprost and latanoprost within separate glaucoma or ocular hypertension patient subsets 2003
    2003 Racial differences in the association between optic disc topography and glaucoma 2003
    2003 Assessing visual function in clinical practice 2003
    2003 Evaluation of the pupillary light response as an objective measure of visual function 2003
    2003 Thin corneas and the risk of progression [2] (multiple letters) 2003
    2002 Ocular trauma-related glaucoma 2002
    2002 Extent of visual dysfunction measured by frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in altitudinal visual field loss secondary to non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) 2002
    2002 Visual function and optic nerve structure in African Americans with healthy eves 2002
    2002 Comparing machine learning classifiers for diagnosing glaucoma from standard automated perimetry 2002
    2002 Aging-related changes in the multifocal electroretinogram 2002
    2002 Management of iris melanoma with secondary glaucoma 2002
    2002 Optic disc morphology after AAION [2] (multiple letters) 2002
    2002 The role of neuroimaging studies in normal-pressure glaucoma 2002
    2001 Strategies for neuroprotection 2001
    2001 Strategies for neuroprotection 2001
    2001 Strategies for neuroprotection. 2001
    2001 Age-related changes in the multifocal electroretinogram of central vision. 2001
    2001 Measurements of disc shape in normal and glaucomatous optic discs. 2001
    2001 Visual processing in college students with and without dyslexia. 2001
    2001 Central disorders of vision in humans 2001
    2001 Neuroprotection: Does it work for any neurological diseases? 2001
    2000 Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements by use of optical coherence tomography 2000
    2000 Visual function-specific perimetry for indirect comparison of different ganglion cell populations in glaucoma 2000
    2000 Evaluating sources of variability for standard and SWAP visual fields in glaucoma patients, suspects and normals. 2000
    2000 Quantitive measurements of optic disc asymmetry in patients with glaucoma and normal subjects. 2000
    2000 Evisceration: A new technique of trans-scleral implant placement 2000
    2000 Neovascular glaucoma and ocular ischemic syndrome 2000
    1999 Visual dysfunction in patients receiving vigabatrin: Clinical and electrophysiologic findings 1999
    1999 Twenty-four-hour pattern of intraocular pressure in the aging population 1999
    1999 Disseminated histoplasmosis causing reversible gaze palsy and optic neuropathy 1999
    1999 Comparison of short wavelength automated perimetry and conventional white-on-white perimetry in patients with progressive optic disk cupping 1999
    1999 Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements using Optical Coherence Tomography 1999
    1999 Prevalence of periocular depigmentation after repeated botulinum toxin A injections in African American patients 1999
    1999 Visual environmental rotation: A novel disorder of visiospatial integration 1999
    1999 Disseminated histoplasmosis causing reversible gaze palsy and optic neuropathy 1999
    1999 Prevalence of periocular depigmentation after repeated botulinum toxin A injections in african american patients 1999
    1998 Pachymeningitis with multiple cranial neuropathies and unilateral optic neuropathy secondary to Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1998
    1997 Radiation optic neuropathy after stereotactic radiosurgery 1997
    1995 3-DIMENSIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF VASCULAR PROLIFERATION IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED ROP - A SEM CORROSION CAST STUDY 1995

    Chapter

    Year Title Altmetric
    2016 Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO).  507-557. 2016

    Research Overview

  • My primary research explores the mechanisms underlying the greater predilection to develop glaucomatous injury in individuals of African ancestry and investigates the morphometry of the optic nerve head as a biomarker to predict the development and progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. The overarching hypothesis is that variation in ONH morphometry and biomechanical properties are largely responsible for the increased in the susceptibility to IOP-related optic nerve injury associated with African ancestry. Related hypotheses are explored through patient-oriented research, including structural and functional evaluation of the optic nerve in the NEI-sponsored African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES I and II) cohort (1), in-vivo studies imaging the lamina cribrosa, ADAGES IV (2), ex-vivo morphometric studies of the lamina cribrosa and posterior sclera utilizing post-mortem human donor tissues (3) and imaging-based health services research to improve care to underserved populations in the CDC-sponsored Eye Care Quality and Accessibility Improvement in the Community (EQUALITY) study.

    1) ADAGES (I,II and III) is a NEI-funded multicenter cohort study designed to evaluation the structural and functional progression of the optic nerve in glaucoma in individuals of European (ED) and African descent (AD). The study began based on my K23 grant awarded in 2001 and is now in its 12th year. The other operational sites are the University of California, San Diego and Columbia University. This collaboration has resulted in 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 59 abstracts. This work has been previously funded through foundation and NIH support (Research to Prevent Blindness, Glaucoma Research Foundation, American Health Assistance Foundation, EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, NIH K23: EY 13959-01, NIH U10: EY 14267-01, NIH U10: EY 14267-02, NIH RO1: EY019869-01)

    2) ADAGES IV: Using in-vivo imaging, we are evaluating structural biomarkers for glaucoma susceptibility within “deep” optic nerve structures visualized within SDOCT datasets. Our particular interest is in defining racial differences in the rate and mode of change in these structures over time to better understand potential differences in pathobiology and to better define progression of glaucomatous disease in this at-risk and underserved population. We have a developed particular focus on the deep optic nerve structures as they not only may serve as new disease biomarkers but also may have mechanistic involvement with the pathogenesis of axonal injury. (NIH R01: EY026574)

    3) DONER (Digital Optic Nerve Episcopic Reconstruction) Library: We have developed a unique library of high-resolution 3D reconstructions from human donor eyes with associated clinical records. Donor ocular tissues were fixed at physiologic and elevated pressures to mimic in-vivo loading conditions in order to enable accurate morphometric and biomechanical analysis. This database currently contains over 190 reconstructed donor pairs. Each reconstruction was develop using an episcopic fluorescent technique that produces high-fidelity reconstructions of the load-bearing connective tissues of the optic nerve head to a resolution of 1.5 cubic micron voxel. We are utilizing these unique digital reconstructions to test the hypothesis that variations in three- dimensional (3D) laminar architecture are critical in determining individual susceptibility to glaucomatous injury. Specifically, that variations in laminar 3D architecture and biomechanical behavior are associated with well-described risk factors for glaucomatous disease such as increasing age and African ancestry. This work has been funded through the NEI and foundation support (NIH RO1: EY18926, NIH RO1: EY19333, NIH RO1: EY018923, Research to Prevent Blindness - Clinician Scientist Award, EyeSight Foundation Research Grant).

    • Principal Investigator On

  • Determinants of the Biomechanical Behavior of the Human Lamina Cribrosa  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2022
  • Unrestricted Grant  awarded by Research to Prevent Blindness 2018 - 2019
  • xADAGES III: Contribution of Genotype to Glaucoma Phenotype  awarded by University of California, San Diego 2013 - 2018
  • Unrestricted Grant  awarded by Research to Prevent Blindness 2013 - 2017
  • Vision Science Research Center P30 Core Grant - Electronics Module  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2010 - 2016
  • African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation (ADAGES) II: Glaucoma Progression  awarded by University of California, San Diego 2010 - 2016
  • Private Grant  awarded by SOLX, INC. 2011 - 2015
  • Statistical Analyses Service for Dr. Paul Lee of the University of Michigan  awarded by University of Michigan 2013 - 2014
  • Proficient Glaucoma Care Delivery Model Based on Automated Structural and Functional Assessment of the Optic Nerve  awarded by CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/DHHS 2012 - 2014
  • Unrestricted Departmental Support  awarded by Research to Prevent Blindness 2012 - 2013
  • Racial Variations in Optic Nerve Head Structure and Biomechanics  awarded by LEGACY HEALTH SYSTEM 2008 - 2013
  • African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation (ADAGES)  awarded by University of California, San Diego 2009 - 2013
  • UAB Subaward - Admixture Mapping of Glaucoma Genes in African Americans  awarded by Duke University 2008 - 2013
  • Private Grant  awarded by HEIDELBERG ENGINEERING 2012 - 2013
  • Age-Related Changes in Optic Nerve Head Structure and Biomechanics  awarded by LEGACY HEALTH SYSTEM 2008 - 2013
  • Physician - Scientist Award  awarded by Research to Prevent Blindness 2005 - 2011

    • Investigator On

  • Perceptual Mechanisms Underlying Reading Difficulties in Glaucoma  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2017 - 2022
  • Optic Nerve Head Mechanobiology in Glaucoma  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2018 - 2022
  • Early Detection of Glaucoma Progression Using a Novel Individualized Approach  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2017 - 2021
  • Using Telemedicine to Improve Glaucoma Care: An Emerging Eye Care Delivery Model  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2016 - 2021
  • African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation (ADAGES) IV: Alterations of the Lamina Cribrosa in Progression  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2017 - 2021
  • Enhancing Glaucoma Medication Adherence Among African Americans  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2015 - 2020
  • Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility - Core B: Pilot Core  awarded by National Institute on Aging/NIH/DHHS 2014 - 2020
  • Center for Translational Research on Aging and Mobility  awarded by National Institute on Aging/NIH/DHHS 2014 - 2019
  • Continuous Telemetric Measurement and Chronic Control of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure  awarded by BRIGHT FOCUS FOUNDATION 2016 - 2018
  • Inflammatory, Cholesterol and Genetic Characteristics in Older Adults in Normal Retinal Health as Potential Biomarkers for the Incident Development of Early Age-Related Maculopathy  awarded by EyeSight Foundation of Alabama 2010 - 2018
  • Age- and Race-Related Differences in Optic Nerve Head Structure and Biomechanics  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2013 - 2017
  • Improving Access to and Quality Eye Care in an At-Risk, Underserved Population  awarded by National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promo./CDC/DHHS 2010 - 2016
  • Vision Science Research Center  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS 2010 - 2016
  • Private Grant  awarded by ALCON RESEARCH, LTD. 2015

    • Education And Training

  • Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 2004
  • Doctor of Medicine in Ophthalmology Residency Program, University of Arkansas System (AR) : Community College at Hope (2-year campus) 1993
  • Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Drury College 1989

    • Full Name

  • Christopher Girkin