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Gary N. holland, mD
Jack H. Skirball Professor of Ocular
Inflammatory Diseases
Chief of the Cornea and Uveitis Division
Director of the Ocular Inflammatory Disease Center
Director of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
Clinical Research Center
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
ReseaRch summaRy
Uveitis and Cornea-External
Ocular Diseases
Dr. Holland’s research interests involve infectious and
inflammatory diseases of the eye. A major focus of
current research is ocular toxoplasmosis, the most
common retinal infection in the general population.
Dr. Holland is conducting various epidemiological
and laboratory investigations in collaboration with
investigators at the National Institutes of Health, the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and
other universities in the United States, Brazil, and
Europe to understand the sources of infection, course
of disease, response to treatment, and disease outcomes.
Patient genetic and parasite-related factors
that influence the risk of ocular involvement are
being studied.
Since 1981, Dr. Holland has been involved in the study
of HIV-related eye disease. He is participating in a large,
NIH-supported multicenter study to investigate how the
ocular manifestations of HIV disease have changed
since the introduction of potent antiretroviral drugs. In
particular, he is using data generated in the study to
investigate HIV-related “neuroretinal disorder” (NRD),
a degenerative condition of the retina that appears to
be the cause of subtle changes in vision known to occur
in HIV-infected individuals, even among those whose
immune function has improved because of antiretroviral
drugs. In addition, he is investigating abnormalities of
retinal blood vessels and abnormal blood flow as pos-
sible contributing factors for development of NRD.
Studies performed by Dr. Holland have shown that these
vascular changes are markers of non-ocular, sometimes
life-threatening diseases among people with AIDS.
In conjunction with members of the Department of
Pediatrics–Rheumatology Division, Dr. Holland has
established a program to provide care for children with
uveitis. He is investigating risk factors for development
of vision-threatening complications among children with
44 Faculty | Holland
juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis, and is
studying the most effective techniques for evaluation
and treatment of uveitis in children.
Dr. Holland is also investigating birdshot chorioretinopathy,
a chronic autoimmune disease of the
eye, in conjunction with Drs. Ralph D. Levinson,
Steven Nusinowitz, and researchers in Paris, France.
Public Service
Associate Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology
Executive Committee Member, American Uveitis Society
Steering Committee Member, Studies of the
Ocular Complications of AIDS
International Council Member, International
Ocular Inflammation Society
Research Grants
Advanced Cell Technology, Academic Research Organization
for Research with Retinal Cells Derived from Stem Cells for
Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 5/31/11–5/30/13
Advanced Cell Technology, Academic Research Organization
for Research with Retinal Cells Derived from Stem Cells for
Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, 4/25/11–4/24/13
National Eye Institute, Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment
Trial (MUST), 12/1/10–11/30/17
National Eye Institute, UCLA/AUPO Introduction to
Clinical Research Course, 3/1/11–4/30/12
amfAR AIDS Research, International Conference on
AIDS-related CMV Retinitis, 8/1/10–7/31/11
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, International Conference
on AIDS-related CMV Retinitis, 8/1/10–7/31/11