.

Dr Doina Gherghel MD, PhD

 

Lecturer in Ophthalmology
School of Life and Health Sciences
Aston University
Birmingham B4 7ET
UK

email: d.gherghel@aston.ac.uk

telephone: +44 (0) 121 204 4120
fax: +44 (0) 121 204 4220

Lecturer on the Undergraduate Optometry Programme

Member of the Ophthalmic Research Group

Co-ordinator of the Vascular Research Laboratory

Member of research strand 'Mechanisms of age-related transitions' - Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing

 

Member of research strand: 'Ageing lives: the social, psychological and public policy contexts of health behaviour and medicines management' -  Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing 

 

Member of research strand: 'Technologies supporting healthy ageing' -  Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing 

    
gherghed-1.jpg

Brief Career History

  • 2006: PhD, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University
  • 2004-to date: Aston University: Lecturer in Ophthalmology
  • 2004-2005: Medici Fellow (Technology Transfer Fellowship)
  • 2004-to date: Research Consultant, Aston Academy of Life Sciences
  • 2001-2004: Honorary Trust Fellow, Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
  • 2001-2004: Research Fellow, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University
  • 1998-2000: Glaucoma Research Fellow, University Eye Clinic, Basel, Switzerland
  • 1999: Doctor, Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic Iasi, Romania
  • 1995-1998: Registrar in Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic Iasi, Romania
  • 1988-1994: University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania

Professional Memberships

  • General Medical Council, Specialist Register in Ophthalmology
  • Royal College of Ophthalmologists (Affiliate member).
  • Alzheimer’s Research Trust, Midlands Network
  • Glaucoma Society (UK and EIRE)
  • European Glaucoma Society (EGS)
  • Diabetes UK
  • FHEA, Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

Research Background

Current and Prospective General Research Areas- for more informations click here

  • Systemic and ocular circulation in health and disease
  • Endothelial function (clinical and laboratory markers)
  • Autonomic nervous system functionality
  • Ageing and vascular health
  • Circadian rhythms in human circulation
  • Oxidative stress in ocular diseases  
  • Intra-ocular drug delivery systems
  • Psychological aspects of vision care

Research Supervision (Specific Projects) – Current and Past

  • PhD: Ms Stephanie Mroczkowska: Janury 2009- to date. Project: Endothelial dysfunction in glaucoma
  • PhD: Ms Lu Qin: April 2008-to date. Project: Age-related macular degeneration and cardiovascular risk factors
  • PhD: Mr Sunni Patel: October 2007-to date. Project: Ethnic differences in endothelial function in subjects at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • PhD: Ms Rebekka Heitmar , October 2005- November 2008. Project: Retinal and systemic vascular reactivity in health and disease
  • Ophthalmic Doctorate project: Mrs Catherine Collin, October 2009-to date:   Evaluation of the optic disc parameters in a normal population in the daily optometric practice : Effect of age, refractive error, , intraocular pressure, blood pressure, and ethnicity.
  • Post Doctoral Research Fellow: Dr Alexandra Benevente-Perez: October 2007-December 2008. Project: Glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease: vascular associations with multiple neurodegenerative consequences (funded by Alzheimer’s Research Trust-ART)
  • Post Doctoral Reserch Fellow: Dr Helen Smith (2005-2006). Project: New drug delivery system for the treatment of POAG

Inventions/ Innovations:

Patent: D. Gherghel, B. Conway. A novel chronotherapeutic system for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma. P715802EP/1196/ US 2009/0155338 A1

Refereed Journal Articles

  • Garhofer G, Bek T, Boehm AG, Gherghel D, Grunwald J, Jeppesen P, Kergoat H, Kotliar K, Lanzl I, Lovasik JV, Nagel E, Vilser W, Orgul S, Schmetterer L.. Use of retinal vessel analyser in ocular blood flow research. Acta Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug 14. [Epub ahead of print]

  • D. Chiselita, C Danielescu, D. Gherghel. Intraocular pressure after cataract surgery using Provasc, Vascoat either separately or in combination.Oftalmologia. 2008;52(3):91-7.

  • R. Heitmar, D. Gherghel, R.A. Armstrong, R. Cubidge, S.L. Hosking:The effect of voluntary fasting and dehydration on flicker-induced retinal vascular dilation in a healthy individual: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:153

  • D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, I.A. Cunliffe, Armstrong RA. First-line therapy with latanoprost 0.005% results in improved ocular circulation in newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma patients: a prospective, 6-month, open-label study. Eye. 2008 Mar;22(3):363-9

  • D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, I.A. Cunliffe, Armstrong RA. Autonomic dysfunction in unselected and untreated primary-open angle glaucoma patients: a pilot study. Ophtlalmic Physiol Opt. 2007, 27:336-341

  • D. Gherghel, H.R. Griffiths, E.J. Hilton, I.A. Cunliffe, S.L. Hosking. Systemic reduction in glutathione levels occurs in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005 Mar;46(3):877-83.

  • E.J. Roff Hilton, S.L. Hosking, D. Gherghel, S. Embleton, I.A. Cunliffe. Beneficial effects of small-incision cataract surgery in patients suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma. Eye 2005; 19:670-675

  • D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, I.A. Cunliffe. Abnormal systemic and ocular vascular response to temperature provocation in primary open-angle glaucoma patients: a case for autonomic failure? Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004 Oct;45(10):3546-54

  • D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, S. Orgul. Autonomic nervous system, circadian rhythms, and primary open-angle glaucoma. Surv Ophthalmol. 2004 Sep-Oct;49(5):491-508. Review.

  • D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, S. Mantry, S. Banerjee, S.A Naroo, S. Shah. Corneal Pachymetry in Normal and Keratoconic Eyes: Orbscan II versus Ultrasound. J Cataract Refract Surg 2004; 30:1272-1277

  • K. Gugleta, S. Org�l, P.W. Hasler, T. Picornell, D. Gherghel, J. Flammer. Choroidal vascular reaction to hand-grip stress in subjects with vasospasm and its relevance in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Apr;44(4):1573-80

  • S. Shah, S. Naroo, S. Hosking, D. Gherghel, S. Mantry, S. Bannerjee, K. Pedweel, H.S. Bains. Nidek OPD-Scan analysis of normal, keratoconic and penetrating keratoplasty eyes. J Refrect Surg 2003; 19 (2 suppl): S255-259

  • D. W. Evans, S. L. Hosking, D. Gherghel, J. D. Bartlett. Contrast Sensitivity Improves Following Brimonidine Therapy in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Case for Neuroprotection? Br J Ophthalmol 2003; 87:1463- 1465.

  • P.W. Hasler, S. Org�l, K. Gugleta, H. Vogten, X. Zhao, D. Gherghel, J. Flammer. Vascular dysregulation in the choroid of subjects with acral vasospasm.
    Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Mar;120(3):302-7

  • K. Gugleta, S. Org�l, I. Flamer, D. Gherghel, J. Flammer. Reliability of confocal choroidal laser Doppler flowmetry. IOVS 2002; 43:723-728

  • C. Bogdanici, D. Gherghel, I. Miron: Actualities in retinoblastoma’s treatment. Oftalmologia, 2001; 50: 48-54

  • D. Gherghel, S. Org�l, K. Gugleta, J. Flammer. Retrobulbar blood flow in glaucoma patients with nocturnal over-dipping in systemic blood pressure.
    Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 Nov;132(5):641-7.

  • D. Gherghel, D. Chiselita. Primary open-angle glaucoma – Identification of vascular risk factors. Oftalmologia, 2001;50:17-27

  • M. Gekkieva, S. Org�l, D. Gherghel, K. Gugleta, C. Pr�nte, J. Flammer. The influence of sex difference in measurements with the Langham Ocular Blood Flow system. Jpn J Ophthalmol, 2001; 45: 528-532

  • P. L�beck, S. Org�l, K. Gugleta, D. Gherghel, M. Gekkieva, J. Flammer. The effect of Timolol on anterior optic nerve blood flow in primary open angle glaucoma patients as assessed by the Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter. J Glaucoma, 2001; 10:13-17

  • D. Gherghel, S. Org�l., K. Gugleta, M. Gekkieva, J. Flammer. Relationship between ocular perfusion pressure and retrobulbar blood flow in patients with glaucoma with progressive damage.Am J Ophthalmol. 2000 Nov;130(5):597-605.

  • D.Gherghel, S.Org�l, K. Gugleta, P.L�beck, M. Gekkieva, J. Flammer. Interocular differences in optic disc topographic parameters in normal subjects. Curr Eye Res 2000, 20: 276-282

  • D. Gherghel, S.Org�l, B.Dubler, K. Gugleta, P.L�beck, J.Flammer. Is vascular regulation in the central retinal artery altered in persons with vasospasm? Arch Ophthalmol. 1999 Oct;117(10):1359-62.

Scientific Abstracts (most recent)

  • Doina Gherghel, Barbara Conway: Glau-chron: a novel chronotherapeutic drug delivery system for the treatment of glaucoma. The 8th International Symposium of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapuutics, 3-6 December 2009, Rome, Italy

  • S Patel, D Gherghel, R Heitmar, A Benavente- Perez, L QinA Benavente-Perez, D McIntyre, Balanos G, Gibson J. Ocular and systemic endothelial function in the offsprings of diabetics: a pilot study. EVER, October 2009, Portoroz, Slovenia

  • D Gherghel, S Patel, L Qin, R Heitmar  and P Bentham. Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in patients suffering from with Alzheimer disease (AD) or glaucoma. World Glaucoma Congress (WGC), July 2009, Boston, USA

  • A Benavente-Perez, D Gherghel, S Patel, L Qin, R Heitmar  and P Bentham. Abnormal retinal vascular reactivity in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease or glaucoma; a pilot study. Alzheimer's Research Trust Abnnual Congference, 19th-20th March 2009, London, UK

  • R Heitmar, D Gherghel, GY Lip. Retinal and Peripheral Micro-vascular Reactivity in Patients Suffering From Coronary Artery Disease Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 50: Suppl 2009

  • B. Conway, D.Gherghel. Glau-Chron: Chronotherapeutic drug management for glaucoma. Medical  Futures 2008 Awards, 3 September 2008, London, UK

  • R. Heitmar, D. Gherghel, GY Lip. Peripheral vascular reactivity in patients suffering from CAD. Microcirculation Abnormalities in Vascular Disease: Scientific principles and Clinical Significance, 7th Annual Symposium, September 2008, London, UK

  • B. Conway, D. Gherghel. Glau-Chron: Chronotherapeutic drug management for glaucoma. Medical  Futures 2008 Awards, 3 September 2008, London, UK

  • A. Benavente-Perez, D. Gherghel, P. Bentham. Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma: neurodegenerative disorders with common vascular risk factors? 3rd Annual Meeting of the Midlands ART Network, 10 June 2008, Coventry, UK

  • D. Gherghel , B. Conway. A novel cronotherapeutic insert for the treatment of glaucoma. Medical Research Society (MRS) meeting, 28 February 2007, London, UK

  • R. Heitmar, D. Gherghel, R.A. Armstrong. The effects of voluntary fasting on retinal and peripheral vessel reactivity – a case study.EVER, October 4-7, 2006, Vilamoura, Portugal

  • I. A. Cunliffe, D. Gherghel, S.L. Hosking, E. Patsoura. Ocular blood flow alterations in newly diagnosed and previously untreated primary open-angle glaucoma patients; relationship to autonomic nervous system function. Annual Meeting of Glaucoma Society (UK and EIRE), December, 2005, London, UK

Teaching and Administration

  • First year tutor
  • Postgraduate: Ophthalmic Doctorate course: Glaucoma module (associate module leader); Therapeutics module
  • Third year Posterior Eye and General Ophthalmology  (module leader)
  • Third year Anterior Eye
  • Ophthalmology referral clinics
  • Ophthalmology Grand Rounds

Other interests

  • Health research effectiveness
  • Clinical research and patients' safety
  • Individual, group and organisational management
  • Technology transfer management
  • Medical education