Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Csaky Joins the DCRI as New Ophthalmology Research Director
By Julie McKeel

Dr. Karl G. Csaky has recently joined Duke as a tenured associate professor in the department of ophthalmology, and will also serve as the therapeutic area faculty leader for multicenter clinical ophthalmology research projects at the DCRI. In addition to his faculty leadership responsibilities at the DCRI, he will work closely with Dr. Scott Cousins in furthering the development of site-based research at the Duke Eye Center.

Prior to joining Duke, Csaky was a tenured senior investigator at the National Eye Institute where he directed the Laboratory of Retinal Diseases and Therapeutics.

Csaky's main area of both laboratory and clinical research is related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He was the study chair for the phase II Celebrex with Photodynamic (Visudyne) Therapy Trial (C-PDT) and the phase II Verteporfin and Triamcinolone Acetonide (VERTACL-1) and Bevacizumab (VERTACL-2) clinical trials. In addition, Dr. Csaky has conducted numerous phase I clinical trials in age-related macular degeneration.

Csaky's current lab research is focusing on studying the pathogenesis of all forms of AMD, and investigating the use of sustained drug delivery as a therapeutic modality.

“Karl brings a wealth of clinical research experience to the DCRI,” said Dr. Bob Harrington, director of the DCRI. "Diseases of the eye are important public health problems. The ophthalmology department at Duke, under David Epstein 's leadership, has built a program with world class basic science research and the ability to provide outstanding clinical care. We are looking forward to a building a research collaboration under Karl's capable leadership that will expand our clinical research activities into this critical area of clinical need," said Harrington.

Dr. David Epstein, the chairman of the ophthalmology department, is also excited about the opportunities for collaborative clinical research.

"For many years I have wanted to establish a closer working relationship between the Duke Eye Center and the DCRI. The DCRI represents an internationally recognized and uniquely talented clinical research organization and an important Duke resource that we at the eye center have not fully taken advantage of. Such willing interactions and cross fertilizations are part of 'the magic' of Duke and one of Duke's true strengths,” said Epstein.

“At the Duke Eye Center , we are passionate about translational research but have so far focused on next-step applications of bench discovery,” continued Epstein. “Karl Csaky is a brilliant clinician scientist but also has that something 'extra special' that will enable him to catalyze and grow a major collaborative program between the Eye Center and the DCRI that has the potential to be truly unique and internationally renowned. Eye disease is a major and growing public health problem, and with the aging of our population, loss of vision is a major detractor from the quality of one's life that has underappreciated implications still," concluded Epstein.

Background Info

Dr. Csaky received his combined MD/PhD degree from the University of Louisville in Louisville , Kentucky . Following his residency in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center , he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and worked with Professor Meyer-Schwickerath in Essen , Germany . He completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a retina fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute. This was followed by a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.

Csaky is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Macula Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).