Robert Nussenblatt, MD
Entry Id: TP-79

Overview
The National Eye Institute (NEI) offers one- or two-year fellowship opportunities in ocular immunology and uveitis. There are usually one or two positions available in July of each year.

The fellowship encompasses clinical training in the medical and surgical management of patients with uveitis and immune mediated diseases, with time allocated for laboratory and clinical research. There is also the option to do a combined uveitis/medical retina fellowship. Clinical fellows are given appointments as "Senior Staff Fellows" at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which makes them eligible for many benefits.

Referrals to the ocular immunology and uveitis service come from all over the world, with about 6000 patient visits a year. Clinics are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The fellow is the primary surgeon for most of the operative cases scheduled on Wednesdays. The clinical faculty members for the uveitis service include:

• Robert B. Nussenblatt, MD; Chief, Laboratory of Immunology
• Janine Smith, MD; Deputy Clinical Director
• Chi-Chao Chan, MD; Immunopathology, Uveitis
• Grace Levy-Clarke, MD; Uveitis and Ocular Immunology

In addition, the NEI has a large staff of immunologists, scientists and clinical trial specialists who interact with the clinical program:

• Igal Gery, PhD; Experimental Immunology
• Rachel Caspi, PhD; Immunoregulation
• John Hooks, PhD; Immunology and Virology
• Charles Egwuagu, PhD; Molecular Immunology
• Jack A. Ragheb, MD, PhD; Clinical Immunology
• Zhuqing Li, MD, PhD; Clinical Immunology
• Fredrick L Ferris, MD, MPH; Clinical Director, NEI, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Retina
• Emily Y Chew, MD; Medical Retina, Biometry and Epidemiology
• George F. Reed, PhD; Biometry and Epidemiology
• Hanna Coleman, MD; Vitreo-retinal Specialist

The goal of the fellowship is to train academically-minded ocular immunologists and uveitis specialists. Fellows will learn to use immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of severe inflammatory eye disease, and be instructed on the surgical management of uveitis. Many of the patients seen at the NEI are subsequently enrolled into clinical trails, and fellows will have NIH training in the design and conduct of clinical trials and participate in NEI-sponsored clinical trials.

The fellowship generally begins in July each year. To apply please send the following:

Letter detailing your career goals and reasons for wanting fellowship training in uveitis and ocular immunology. A current curriculum vitae Three letters of recommendation, including one from the director of residency training. This information should be mailed to the contact information above. 

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.