Optic Disc & Imaging Reading Center
Optic Disc & Imaging Reading Center
Who We Are
The UC San Diego’s Imaging Data Evaluation and Analysis (IDEA) Center offers a wide variety of clinical research support services from image processing and analysis to study design and protocol development support. Our highly skilled researchers and staff are expertly trained in several types of image processing and analysis.
The IDEA Center is also comprised of the Optic Disc Reading Center (ODRC), which offers interpretation and analysis of fundus photography, including optic disc and retinal photographs, both digital and film.
Services
The IDEA Center offers a menu of services to meet clinical study-specific needs. Linda Zangwill, Ph,D. and the IDEA Center staff will work with the study’s sponsors to provide the optimum complement of services to ensure successful data transfer, management, processing of images and photographs.
Protocol Development
- Assist in development of visual field protocols
- Develop and maintain data collection forms and study documents
- Provide study-specific manual of procedures
- Provide protocols and training for electronic transfer of images and photographs
- Provide study-specific information to instrument manufacturers to assist in upgrading or standardizing instruments across sites
What We Do
Our areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, the processing and quality review of Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy; Optical Coherence Tomography; time domain OCT, spectral domain; Scanning Laser Polarimetry; and fundus photography. We often work directly with the manufacturers and engineers of our imaging equipment and related software.
Training & Certification:
- Training of study personnel
- Certification of study personnel
Quality Assessment:
- Review visual fields for quality and adherence to protocol
- Provide quality control feedback to study centers
- Request repeated testing or data corrections as needed to ensure complete and accurate data
- Test and pre-approve all instrument hardware and software upgrades utilized
Data Handling:
- FDA, HIPAA and IRB compliant data handling
- Study-specific image quality and protocol adherence assessment
- In-house IT /computer programming specialists available to create and maintain secure databases and provide support for all study needs
- Efficient electronic transfer of visual fields and test results
Image Processing and Analysis:
- Review visual fields for specific diagnoses and inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Provide progression analysis
- Provide statistical analysis
- Other Services
Contact Linda Zangwill, PhD to discuss services not listed above. A companion reading center, the VisFACT Center, is available to provide similar services for visual field tests.
Reading Center Studies
IDEA Center has provided reading center services for the following studies:
Sponsored by National Eye Institute:
- Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Ancillary Study to the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Ancillary Investigation (1995- 2010)
- Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma: Clinical Electrophysiology (2007-2009)
- European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS) (2008-2011)
- Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) (1995-2016)
- African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) (2002-2016)
- Medical Advice from Glaucoma Informatics (MAGI) (2002-2007)
- Predicting and Detecting Glaucomatous Progression Using Pattern Recognition (2012-2016)
Sponsored by Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:
- A 48-Month, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Memantine in Daily Doses of 20 MG and 10 MG in Patients with Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma at Risk for Glaucomatous Progression. Protocol Number 192944-004.
- A 48-Month, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Masked Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Memantine in Daily Doses of 20 MG and 10 MG in Patients with Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma at Risk for Glaucomatous Progression. Protocol Number 192944-005.
Sponsored by TOPCON Corporation (2011):
- An age-stratified data collection study in adult males and females, ages 18 and above to establish a normative database using the 3D optical coherence Tomography 3D OCT-1000 Mark II
Sponsored by Nidek Co., Ltd (2011-2012):
- Comparative Study of the Nidek Optical Coherence Tomography RS-3000 and the RTVue OCT Predicate Device for the Measurements of Retinal and RNFL Thickness, Optic Disc Analysis, Pachymetry, Anterior Chamber Imaging and SLO Imaging.
Reading Center Personnel
The application is now available for the 2025 - 2026 yearlong internship program.
- Linda Zangwill, PhD; Director, IDEA Center
- Christopher Bowd, PhD; Director, VisFACT
- Keri Dirkes, MPH; Supervisor, IDEA Center/ VisFACT
- Maria Hunsicker; Coordinator, IDEA Center
- Suzanne Vega, MPH; Coordinator, VisFACT/ IDEA Center
Scientific Advisory Board
Our Reading Centers include internationally recognized ophthalmologists and researchers including:
- Christopher Bowd, PhD
- Robert N. Weinreb, MD
- Linda M. Zangwill, PhD
Information about diversity and inclusion is available through multiple venues. First, there are several websites available that provide information about diversity initiatives across the entire campus (diversity.ucsd.edu) and the (School of Medicine). Many departments have their own websites as well. Virtually all departments at UCSD have identified an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) ambassador, typically a faculty member who spearheads diversity-related initiatives in their areas/specialties and also collaborates with various entities across the medical school.
There are several active affinity organizations for UCSD medical students. These include:
The Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS)
The Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA)LGBTQ
Pharmacy and Medical Students (LGBTQ-PhaM)
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)
Medical Students for Justice (MS4J)
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
UCSD also offers a curricular pathway called Program in Medical Education – Health Equity (PRIME - HEq), which part of a system-wide effort at the University of California to train physicians better able to meet the needs of the diverse Californian population who are traditionally underserved by the medical system. PRIME-HEq faculty work with students to identify populations or communities at risk for health disparities. Students will then receive exposure, training, and the opportunity to work with the identified group to further their passion in the area and provide knowledge and skills to better equip the students to improve health equity for the group.
- UC Campus Diversity Efforts
- UCSD Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion
- UCSD School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships
- UCSD Student National Medical Association
- UCSD Black Resource Center
- UCSD Latino Medical Student Association
- UCSD Women’s Center
- UCSD Hispanic Center of Excellence
- UCSD LGBT Resource Center