About

The Vision Research Center (VRC) at UMKC is the Department of Ophthalmology’s research arm, providing residents and fellows with comprehensive research opportunities, including basic research, translational research and clinical trials.

At the VRC, we maintain a strong tradition of being the first in the development of new clinical therapies and  tools that aid clinicians in treating patients who suffer from eye conditions. Our department has served as a host site for numerous sponsored clinical trials since its early days, and was the first in the world to successfully perform excimer laser surgery with a commercial instrument.

Our Research Approach and Impact

Founded in 2007 with the establishment of the Felix and Carmen Sabates Missouri Endowed Chair in Vision Research, the VRC’s Basic and Translational Research programs are at the cutting edge of vision research. They attract the brightest minds in the field to test new ideas and concepts using state-of-the-art equipment to develop cures for diseases that affect the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

The effects of these blinding diseases will continue to impact a significantly greater number of people. With an aging Baby Boomer population, and the prevalence of eye-related disorders due to age, diabetes and other conditions, the work of the VRC is paramount.

Our research is vigorous. Not only do we test new ideas and concepts in our basic research, we also take knowledge and treatments already available and improve them through translational research. In this way, our research goes from bench to bedside in the form of therapies and techniques to improve patients’ lives.

Our current research efforts for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma will allow us to advance the research further in the hope of developing cures.