Dr. Christine Kay

Christine Nichols Kay, M.D.

Dr. Kay has a special interest in inherited retinal disease and is actively involved as an investigator in multiple clinical trials at VRA involving Stargardt disease, Achromatopsia, and Usher syndrome.

She was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida and is currently Affiliate faculty at the University of South Florida.

Dr. Kay is a member of the Macula Society and the Retina Society. She received an honor award from the American Society of Retina Specialists in 2012. 

Education

2009-2011 – University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship

Summer 2009 – Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL; Visiting Fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Harry Flynn

2006–2009 – University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Ophthalmology Residency

2005-2006 – Roanoke Carilion Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, VA; Transitional Internship

2001–2005 – University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; Doctor of Medicine, May 2005

1998–2001 – Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Bachelor of Arts in Neurobiology; Magna Cum Laude

Summer 1991 – Oxford University, Oxford, England; Study Abroad program in English Literature

1997–1998 – Duke University, Durham, NC; Bachelor of Arts Candidate

Certifications

2003 USMLE, Part I

2004 USMLE, Part II Clinical Knowledge

2005 USMLE Part II Clinical Skills and USMLE Part III

2010 American Board of Ophthalmology Written exam – Passed

2010 American Board of Ophthalmology Oral exam – Passed

Licenses

State          Issued            Expires
Florida       9/8/2007         1/31/2024
Iowa          2/20/2009        8/01/2011

Professional Positions

9/14-present          Vitreo Retinal Associates; Gainesville, Florida

8/11-8/14                Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology,

                                         Vitreoretinal Surgery, University of Florida.

                                         Director Vitreoretinal surgical service

                                         Vitreoretinal fellowship director,

                                         Director electrophysiology service

                                         Director, Vitreoretinal service

9/13-present          Independent Medical Safety Monitor (IMSM) for the New

                                       Enrollment Post-Approval Study of the Argus® II Retinal

                                       Prosthesis System

7/07–6/09               Fee Basis Ophthalmologist

                                      James A. Haley Veterans Administration; Tampa, FL

7/03-8/03               Summer Intern, Public Speaker for Cardiovascular Health

                                      Northeast Florida AHEC; Jacksonville, FL

5/00-8/00              Research Intern Mass General Hospital; Cambridge, MA

1999-2001              Multi-Disciplinary Institute for Neuropsychological

                                      Development Intern; Cambridge, MA

1999-2001              Organic Chemistry and Physics Tutor

                                      Harvard Bureau of Study Council; Cambridge, MA

1998                        Howard Hughes Research Fellow

                                      Duke University; Durham, NC

1997                         Ophthalmic technician

                                     Brandon Cataract Center and Eye Clinic; Brandon, FL

HONORS AND AWARDS

2017                 Inducted into Macula Society

2017                 Inducted into Retina Society

2012                 Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists

2008-2009    Chief Resident, USF Ophthalmology residency

2009               USF Health Science Research Day:

                                  Outstanding Poster in Clinical Studies and Case Reports

2008                2nd Place at Florida Society of Ophthalmology Resident Research

                                 Symposium

2007                 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in

                                 Teaching Award – Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital

2002                 Alpha Omega Alpha Research Award

2001                  Harvard Hoopes Prize/Scholarship for Excellent Thesis

2000                 Harvard College Scholarship (merit based)

2000                 Harvard College Research Program Grant for neuroscience Research 1998  Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Duke University

1998                  Dean’s List with Distinction, Duke University

1998                  Howard Hughes Research Grant for undergraduate research

1997                  Valedictorian; Bloomingdale High School, Brandon, FL

Editorial Roles:

Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging: Retina

RETINA

PLoS One

IVOS

Human Mutation

RESEARCH

Dr. Kay is a board-certified ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon and has been conducting clinical research since 2012. Her focus and passion are inherited retinal diseases, including but not limited to Stargardt disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Achromatopsia. Dr. Kay and her research team aim to improve the lives of people diagnosed with these and other diseases, as well as prevent blindness. Currently, the clinical trial team is conducting over 20 different studies targeting a multitude of retinal diseases.

Participation in a clinical trial is entirely voluntary and free of cost. Eligibility for enrollment into a particular trial is determined through a screening process that varies from study to study. Eligibility criteria also vary, and you may not be eligible for participation depending on these factors. If you are interested in learning more about any of our trials or are considering participating in one, please email one of our coordinators.

INVESTIGATORS

Principal Investigator: Christine N. Kay, MD

Sub Investigators:

Kaushik M. Hazariwala, MD

Brandon Parrott, MD

Siva R. Iyer, MD

RESEARCH COORDINATORS

Jing Zhang, MD (Lead)

Maria G. Martinez | Martinez@vra-pa.com

Cassandra Capella | Cassandra@vra-pa.com

Isabella Tassistro | Isabella@vra-pa.com

ONGOING CLINICAL RESEARCH TRIALS

To find out more about any of these trials, click this link and search for the identifier code

https://clinicaltrials.gov/

WET AMD

A Phase 1/2 Dose-Escalation and Randomized, Controlled, Masked Expansion Trial of Intravitreal 4D-150 Gene Therapy in Adults with Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Sponsor: 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. https://4dmoleculartherapeutics.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05197270

A Randomized, Partially Masked, Controlled, Phase 2b/3 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy

and Safety of RGX-314 Gene Therapy in Participants with nAMD (ATMOSPHERE)

Sponsor: REGENXBIO Inc. https://www.regenxbio.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04704921

A Randomized, Partially Masked, Controlled, Phase 3 Clinical Study to Evaluate

the Efficacy and Safety of RGX-314 Gene Therapy in Participants with nAMD (ASCENT)

Sponsor: REGENXBIO Inc. https://www.regenxbio.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05407636

DRY AMD / GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY

Horizon: a phase ii, open-label, outcomes-assessor masked, Multicentre, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two doses of gt005 administered as a single subretinal injection in subjects with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Sponsor: Gyroscope Therapeutics Limited https://www.gyroscopetx.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04566445

Explore: a phase 2, outcomes assessor-masked, multicentre, randomized study to evaluate the

safety and efficacy of two doses of gt005 administered as a single subretinal injection in

subjects with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related Macular degeneration.

Sponsor: Gyroscope Therapeutics https://www.gyroscopetx.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04437368

A Phase 2b, Randomized, Double-masked, Multicenter, Dose-ranging, Sham-controlled Clinical Trial To Evaluate Intravitreal JNJ-81201887(AAVCAGsCD59) Compared to Sham Procedure for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Protocol 81201887MDG2001;2b

Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC https://www.janssen.com/clinical-trials

EDMS Number: EDMS-RIM-551697, 4.0

Phase 3 Study of ALK-001 in Geographic Atrophy (SAGA)

Sponsor: Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03845582 https://www.alkeuspharma.com/

DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

A Prospective, Randomized, Double-masked, Active Comparator-controlled, Multi-center, Two-arm, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal KSI-301 Compared with Intravitreal Aflibercept in Participants with Visual Impairment Secondary to Treatment-naïve Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)  (CURRENTLY FULLY ENROLLED)

Sponsor: Kodiak Sciences Inc. https://kodiak.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04603937

RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Oral N-Acetylcysteine in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (NAC ATTACK)

Sponsor: National Eye Institute https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05537220

Phase 3 Follow-up Study of AAV5-hRKp.RPGR for the Treatment of X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa Associated with Variants in the RPGR gene

Protocol MGT-RPGR-022, Phase 3

Sponsor: MeiraGTx UK II Ltd. https://meiragtx.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04794101

Phase 3 Randomized, Controlled Study of AAV5-hRKp.RPGR for the Treatment of X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa Associated with Variants in the RPGR gene

Protocol MGT-RPGR-021, Phase 3 https://meiragtx.com/

Sponsor: MeiraGTx UK II Ltd.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04671433

An Open-label, Phase 1/2 Trial of Gene Therapy 4D-125 in Males with X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP) Caused by Mutations in the RPGR Gene

Sponsor: 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. https://4dmoleculartherapeutics.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04517149

STARGART DISEASE

Open-Label Extension: Tolerability and Effects of ALK-001 on Stargardt Disease (TEASE)

Sponsor: Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. https://www.alkeuspharma.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04239625

Phase 2 Tolerability and Effects of ALK-001 on Stargardt Disease.

Sponsor: Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. https://www.alkeuspharma.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02402660

Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Tinlarebant in the Treatment of Adolescent Subjects With Stargardt Disease

Sponsor: Belite Bio, Inc https://belitebio.com/

Protocol Number: LBS-008-CT03

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05244304

A Phase 2b/3 Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of STG-001 in Subjects with Stargardt Disease (STGD1) Caused by Autosomal Recessive Mutation in ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 4 (ABCA4) Gene

Sponsor: Stargazer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04489511

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)

Zimura Compared to Sham in Patients With Autosomal Recessive Stargardt Disease (STGD1)

Sponsor: Ophthotech Corporation (IVERIC bio, Inc.) https://ivericbio.com/clinical-programs/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03364153

 

RETINAL DEGENERATION NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES

Rate of Progression in EYS Related Retinal Degeneration (Pro-EYS)

Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research https://www.jaeb.org/projects/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04127006

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)

Rate of Progression in USH2A related Retinal Degeneration (RUSH2A)

Sponsor: Jaeb Center for Health Research https://www.jaeb.org/projects/

Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT03146078

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)

 

CHOROIDEREMIA

Long-term Safety and Efficacy Follow-up of AAV2-REP1 for the Treatment of Choroideremia (SOLSTICE)

Sponsor: NightstaRx Ltd, a Biogen Company https://www.bioindustry.org/member/nightstarx-ltd.html

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03584165

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)

 

ACHROMATOPSIA

Phase 1/2 Safety and Efficacy Trial of AAV Gene Therapy in Patients with CNGB3 Achromatopsia

Sponsor: Applied Genetic Technologies Corp https://agtc.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02599922

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)

Phase 1/2 Safety and Efficacy Trial of AAV Gene Therapy in Patients with CNGA3 Achromatopsia

Sponsor: Applied Genetic Technologies Corp https://agtc.com/

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02935517

(NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLING)