The Ophthalmic Biophysics Center (OBC) is an independent basic science laboratory specializing in research in biophysics, bioengineering, lasers, and drug delivery. The OBC also functions as a service laboratory for the design of devices for a wide range of research needs, as well as technical maintenance and repair of clinical and research equipment.
Expertise includes design, modification and/or construction of instruments and devices requiring sophisticated electronics, tool and die, laser, optics, imaging devices, as well as pre-clinical testing (surgery, follow-up and histopathology) of novel ocular implants and treatment modalities. The OBC can, and has, produced devices from the smallest of instruments for intra-ocular surgery to sophisticated lasers. For example, the intellectual and technical contribution of the OBC was critical to the development of vitrectomy in the early 1970’s.
Leadership & Management
Jean-Marie Parel, Ph.D. is the OBC director. Dr. Parel is appointed to the Henri and Flore Lesieur Chair in Ophthalmology and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Marco Ruggeri, Ph.D., associate professor ophthalmology, is the OBC co-director.
Location
The OBC is located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the McKnight building.
Resources
Resources include a completely equipped machine shop, staffed by a mechanical engineer, an electronic lab staffed by an electronics engineer, facilities for optical system design, a laser laboratory, a polymer laboratory and a surgical suite for experimental surgery.
For more information, please contact:
Jean-Marie Parel, Ph.D.
Director, Ophthalmic Biophysics Center
Email: jmparel@med.miami.edu
Phone: 305-326-6369
William L. McKnight Building, 1st floor