Christine Kay, MD
4340 W Newberry Road
Suite 202
Gainesville, FL 32607
United States map
(352) 371-2800 office
Professional Affiliations
Academic Appointments- Affiliate Assistant Professor at University of South Florida
- North Florida Regional Hospital
Education and Training
- Retinal fellowship
- University of Iowa, Iowa City
Biography
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
NAME
Christine Nichols Kay
VITREORETINAL ASSOCIATES
Gainesville, FL USA
SHAREHOLDER
DIRECTOR CLINICAL RESEARCH
Affiliate Assistant Professor University of South Florida
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- B.A. 2001, Magna cum Laude, Neurobiology
Duke University, Durham, NC
1997-1998 BA candidate
Oxford University, Oxford, England
Summer 1999
Study Abroad/ Eng. Literature
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL MD 2001-2005 Medicine
Roanoke Carilion Mem. Hosp. Roanoke, VA 2005-2006 Transitional Internship
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 2009-2011
Ophthalmology Residency
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 2006-2009
Vitreoretinal surgical fellowship
Personal Statement
I joined Vitreo Retinal Associates (VRA) in Gainesville, Florida in September 2014. Currently I am a Shareholder, Director or Clinical Research, and Director Retinal Genetics at VRA. Prior to this, I was faculty at the University of Florida as Assistant Professor (2011-2014) and a vitreoretinal specialist in the department of Ophthalmology. I completed my vitreoretinal fellowship training at the University of Iowa, where Dr. Edwin Stone was my primary research mentor. At Iowa, I developed a particular interest in inherited retinal disease, with a particular focus on that time on the clinical characterization of patients with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy.
I was awarded a 5-year Career Development Award (with co-sponsors Edwin Stone, M.D., Ph.D. from Iowa, and William Hauswirth, Ph.D., from University of Florida) from the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). My research currently focuses on the development and optimization of a viral vector delivery system for the genetic treatment of Achromatopsia.
My primary academic focus is the characterization of patients with retinal dystrophies, and participation in clinical trials for inherited retinal degenerations. Currently, I am a principal investigator in multiple ongoing gene therapy trials, for both IRDs (Ascidian Therapeutics, AGTC achromatopsia trials, MeiraGTx and 4D Therapeutic's RPGR XLRP Trials) and for age related macular degeneration (Janssen, Sanofi, 4D Therapeutics, RegenxBio and Gyroscope gene therapy trials).
Recent Positions:
2011-2014 Retina fellowship director, University of Florida
2011-2014 Director Electrophysiology service, University of Florida
2011-2014 Clinical research director, Vitreoretinal service, University of Florida
2014-present Director Electrophysiology service, Vitreo Retinal Associates, Gainesville FL
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
2017 Macula Society
2017 Retina Society
2001-present American Medical Association
2001-2005 American Medical Student Association
2001-2005 Florida Medical Association
2006-2009 Florida Society of Ophthalmology
2006-present American Academy of Ophthalmology
2006-present ARVO
2009-present American Society of Retina Specialists 2009-present Iowa Eye Association
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 Number Type Issued Expires
Florida ME99947 Permanent 9/08/2007 1/31/2026
HONORS AND AWARDS
2009 American Society of Retina Specialists
2018 ASRS Senior Honor Award
2017 Inducted into Macula Society
2017 Inducted into Retina Society
1997 Valedictorian; Bloomingdale High School, Brandon, FL
1998 Howard Hughes Research Grant for undergraduate research
1998 Dean’s List with Distinction, Duke University
1998 Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Duke University
2000 Harvard College Research Program Grant for Neuroscience Research
2000 Harvard College Scholarship (merit based)
2001 Harvard Hoopes Prize/Scholarship for Excellent Senior Honors Thesis
2002 Alpha Omega Alpha Research Award
2007 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
2008 2nd Place at Florida Society of Ophthalmology Resident Research Symposium
2009 USF Health Science Research Day: Outstanding Poster/Clinical Studies/Reports
2008-2009 Chief Resident, USF Ophthalmology residency
PUBLICATIONS (peer-reviewed)
[In print or forthcoming]
Yang P, Pardon LP, Ho, AC, Lauer, AK, Yoon D, Boye SE, Boye SL, Roman AJ, Wu V, Garafalo AV, Sumaroka A, Swider M, Viarbitskaya I, Aleman TS, Pennesi ME, Kay CN, Fujita KP, Cideciyan AV. Safety and Efficacy of ATSN-101 in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis caused by biallelic mutations in GUCY2D: a phase 1/2 multicentre, open-label, unilateral dose escalation study. Lancet Vol 404, Issue 10456,, P962-970, September 7, 2024.
Birch DG, Cheetham JK, Daiger SP, Hoyng C, Kay C, McDonald IM, Pennesi ME, Sullivan LS. Overcoming the challenges to clinical development of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa therapies: proceedings of an expert panel. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023 Jun; 12(6):5.
Samuel G. Jacobson, Artur V. Cideciyan, Allen C. Ho, Alejandro J. Roman, Vivian Wu, Alexandra V. Garafalo, Alexander Sumaroka, Arun K. Krishnan, Malgorzata Swider, Abraham A. Mascio, Christine N. Kay, Dan Yoon, Kenji P. Fujita, Sanford L. Boye, Igor V. Peshenko, Alexander M. Dizhoor, Shannon E. Boye. Night vision restored in days after decades of congenital blindness. iScience, 2022
Mendell JR, Al-Zaidy SA, Rodino-Klapac LR, Goodspeed K, Gray SJ, Kay CN, Boye SL, Boye SE, George LA, Salabarria S, Corti M, Byrne BJ, Tremblay JP. Current Clinical Applications of In Vivo Gene Therapy with AAVs. Mol Ther. 2021 Feb 3;29(2):464-488.
Gregori NZ, Hussain RM, Kay CN, Lam BL, Dermer H, Davis JL. Current Concepts and Emerging Gene Therapies for Inherited Retinal Diseases. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2019 Winter;59(1):83-110.
Duncan JL, Liang W, Maguire MG, Audo I, Ayala AR, Birch DG, Carroll J, Cheetham JK, Esposti SD, Durham TA, Erker L, Farsiu S, Ferris FL 3rd, Heon E, Hufnagel RB, Iannaccone A, Jaffe GJ, Kay CN, Michaelides M, Pennesi ME, Sahel JA; Foundation Fighting Blindness Consortium Investigator Group. Baseline Visual Field Findings in the RUSH2A Study: Associated Factors and Correlation With Other Measures of Disease Severity. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020 Nov;219:87-100.
Strampe MR, Huckenpahler AL, Higgins BP, Tarima S, Visotcky A, Stepien KE, Kay CN, Carroll J. Intraobserver Repeatability and Interobserver Reproducibility of Ellipsoid Zone Measurements in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2018 Jun 4;7(3):13
Dedania VS, Ghodasra DH, Kay CN, Roseman R, Johnson MW. CILIOCHOROIDAL EFFUSION AND ACUTE MACULAR NEURORETINOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH CERVICAL TRACTION THERAPY. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2018 Winter;12(1):24-28.
Langlo, C.S., Erker, L.R., Parker, M., Patterson, E.J., Higgins, B.P., Summerfelt, P., Razeen, M.M., Collison, F.T., Fishman, G.A., Kay, C.N., Zhang, J., Weleber, R.G., Yang, P., Pennesi, M.E., Lam, B.L., Chulay, J.D., Dubra, A., Hauswirth, W.W., Wilson, D.J., Carroll, J., ACHM-001 Study Group. Repeatability and longitudinal assessment of foveal cone structure in CNGB3-associated achromatopsia. Retina. 2017 Jan 31. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000001434.
Sun LW, Johnson RD, Langlo CS, Cooper RF, Razeen MM, Russillo MC, Dubra A, Connor TB Jr, Han DP, Pennesi ME, Kay CN, Weinberg DV, Stepien KE, Carroll J. Assessing Photoreceptor Structure in Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 May 1;57(6):2428-42.
Langlo C.S., Patterson E.J., Higgins B.P., Summerfelt P., Razeen M.M., Erker L.R., Parker M., Collison F.T., Fishman G.A., Kay C.N., Zhang J., Weleber R.G., Yang P., Wilson D.J., Pennesi M.E., Lam B.L., Chiang J., Chulay J.D., Dubra A., Hauswirth W.W., Carroll J., ACHM-001 Study Group. Residual foveal cone structure in CNGB3-associated achromatopsia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Aug 1;57(10):3984-95. doi: 10.1167/iovs.16-19313.
Sun LW, Johnson RD, Langlo CS, Cooper RF, Razeen MM, Russillo MC, Dubra A, Connor TB Jr, Han DP, Pennesi ME, Kay CN, Weinberg DV, Stepien KE, Carroll J. Assessing Photoreceptor Structure in Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 May 1;57(6):2428-42. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-18246.
Dedania VS, Ghodasra DH, Kay CN, Roseman R, Johnson MW. "Ciliochoroidal Effusion and Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy Associated with Cervical Traction Therapy.” Accepted to Retina Cases and Brief Reports.
Choi C, Zhang L, Abramoff MD, Sonka M, Shifera A, Kay CN. Evaluating Efficacy of Aflibercept in Refractory Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration with OCT segmentation volumetric analysis. Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging. 2016 Mar 1;47(3):245-51
Shifera AS, Kay CN. Early-onset X-linked retinitis pigmentosa in a heterozygous female harboring an intronic donor splice site mutation in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene. Ophthalmic Genetics. 2015;36(3):251-6. doi: 10.3109/13816810.2013.879597.
Chen JJ, Sohn EH, Mahajan VM, Kay CN, Boldt HC, Folk JC, Russell SR. “Response of Foveal Cystoid Changes from Idiopathic Juxtafoveal Telangiectasia to Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors.” Retina. 2014 Jul;34(7):1400-6.
Bhullar SS, Gray MJ, Kay CN. “Role for rapid surgical intervention in uveal effusion syndrome with associated optic neuropathy.” Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2014 Apr 4;45(3):e11-3. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20140331-04.
Cohen J, Bhullar S, Kasuga D, Boye S, Elhalis H, Kay CN. “Retinal pigment epithelial detachment in ABCA4-associated Stargardt disease.” Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging. 2013 Jul 1;44(4):401-4.
Kay CN, Ryals RC, Aslanidi GV, Min SH, Ruan Q, Dyka FM, Kasuga D, Ayala AE, Van Vliet K, Agbandje-McKenna M, Hauswirth WW, Boye SL, Boye SE. “Targeting Photoreceptors Via Intravitreal Delivery Using Novel, Capsid-Mutated AAV Vectors.” PLoS One 2013 Apr 26;8(4):e62097.
Bhalla S, Joshi D, Bhullar S, Kasuga D, Park Y, Kay CN. Long term follow-up data for efficacy and safety of treatment of retinitis pigmentosa with valproic acid.” British Journal Ophthalmology 2013 Jul;97(7):895-9.
Hollsten JE, McClintock M, Samy H, Peden M, Kay CN. “Fulminant chorioretinitis and papillitis secondary to coxsackievirus B virus presenting as acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy with positive response to IVIG.” Accepted to Retina Cases and Brief Reports.
McClintock M, Peden MC, Kay CN. “Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in siblings with CNGB3-associated achromatopsia.” Adv. Exp. Med. Biol 2014;801:551-7.
Boye SL, Peshenko IV, Huang WC, Min SH, McDoom I, Kay CN, Liu X, Dyka FM, Foster TC, Umino Y, Karan S, Jacobson SG ,Baehr W, Dizhoor A, Hauswirth WW and Boye SE. “AAV-mediated gene therapy in the guanylate cyclase (RetGC1/RetGC2) double knockout mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis." Hum Mol Gene Therapy 2013 Feb;24(2):189-202.
Russell SR, Sohn EH, Boldt HC, Folk JC, Tarantola RM, Kay CN, Mahajan VM. “Elimination of infusion bubbles and uncontrolled reflux in the Alcon constellation vitrectomy vision system.” Retina 2013 Apr;33(4):803-6.
Kay CN, Quiram P, Mahajan VM. “23-Gauge Pediatric Vitrectomy using Limbus-based Trocar-Cannulas.” Retina. 2012 May;32(5):1023-7.
Kay CN, Abramoff MD, Mullins RF, Kinnick TR, Lee K, Chung MM, Sohn EH, Stone EM. “Three dimensional distribution of the vitelliform lesion, photoreceptors, and retinal pigment epithelium in the macula of patients with Best vitelliform macular dystrophy.” Arch Ophthalmol. 2012 Mar;130(3):357-64.
Kay CN, Pavan PR, Small LB, Zhang T, Zamba GKD, Cohen SM. “Familial Trends in a Population with Macular Holes.” Retina. 2012 Apr;32(4):754-9.
Kay CN, Tarantola RM, Gehrs KM, Folk JC, Mahajan VB, Boldt HC, Syed N, Russell SR. “Uveitis Following Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection: A Non-Infectious Cluster.” Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging. 2011 Jul-Aug;42(4):292-6.
Kay CN, Elkins KA, Folk JC. “Resolution of refractory macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion after Ozurdex implantation.” Retina Cases and Brief Reports. 2012 Winter;6(1):72-5. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0b013e3182051feb
Kinnick TR, Mullins RF, Dev S, Leys M, Mackey D, Kay CN, Lam BL, Fishman GA, Traboulsi E, Stone EM. “Autosomal Recessive Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy in a Large Cohort of Vitelliform Macular Disease Patients.” Retina. 2011 Mar;31(3):581-95.
Tarantola RM, Elkins KA, Kay CN, Folk JC. “Photoreceptor Recovery Following Laser Photocoagulation and Albendazole in Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis.” Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 May;129(5):669-71.
Kay CN, Saunders T, Pavan PR. “Ocular Injuries Sustained in Paintball Trauma.” Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2010 Mar;248(3):331-2.
Potcoava M, Kay CN, Kim MK, Richards DW. “In vitro imaging of ophthalmic tissue by digital interference holography.” Journal of Modern Optics 2009.
Kay CN, Pavan PR, Burrows A, Martino AZ. "Neurosensory Retinal Detachment of the Macula in Retinal Phototoxicity Documented by Optical Coherence Tomography." Retinal Cases and Brief Reports. 2010 Spring;4(2):143-5. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0b013e3181997ce7.
Kay CN, Gendy MG, Lujan BJ, Punjabi OS, Gregori G, Flynn HW. “Composite Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Images of Diabetic Tractional Retinal Detachment.” Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 2008; 39:S99-S103.
(Kay) Nichols C, Pincus DW, Bhatti MT. "Optociliary Shunt Vessels." Neurology 64: 1443. April 2005.
[Submitted & In Preparation]
Margaret R. Strampe, Alison L. Huckenpahler, Mr. Brian P. Higgins , Kimberly E. Stepien , Dr. Christine N. Kay, Joseph Carroll. Repeatability of ellipsoid zone measurements in retinitis pigmentosa. Submitted to TVST.
Min SH, Boye SL, Ryals RC, Ruan Q, Sun J, Dyka F, Hauswirth WW, Boye SE, Kay CN. Long-term restoration of visual function in the CNGB3/NRL double knockout mouse, a cone-dominant model of CNGB3-achromatopsia. In preparation.