Christopher A. Girkin, MD, associate professor in UAB's Department of Ophthalmology, has received a $55,000 Physician-Scientist Award from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB). RPB Physician-Scientist awards allow physicians at U.S. medical institutions to devote time to clinical eye research activities, providing greater opportunities for specialized study with direct application to the human condition. Dr. Girkin is 1 of 25 physician-scientists at 17 institutions who have received the award since it was established in 2000.

Dr. Girkin's research focuses on developing the first three-dimensional digital reconstructions of the human optic nerve head. These unique high-fidelity reconstructions can be used to test whether variations in the architecture of the eye are critical in determining risk of developing glaucoma.

RPB is the world's leading voluntary organization supporting eye research.

To date, the organization has awarded UAB grants totaling more than $2 million. Since it was founded in 1960, RPB has channeled hundreds of millions of dollars to medical institutions nationwide for research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of blinding eye diseases.