Submacular Surgery Trials

Submacular Surgery Trials

Beginning June 1, 1998, the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health awarded funding to the SST Research Group to conduct an investigation of submacular surgery for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to to age-related macular degeneration (Group B and Group N Protocols). Previously, on May 1, 1997, the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health awarded funding to the SST Research Group to conduct an investigation of submacular surgery for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome and idiopathic causes (Group H Protocol). Enrollment in all trials was completed September 29, 2001. Follow-up of all SST participants will continue through September 30, 2003.

The SST Group B was designed to answer the question: Does submacular surgery of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization with large areas of bleeding secondary to age-related macular degeneration significantly increase the likelihood of vision stabilization or improvement for two years or longer compared to no surgery?

The SST Group N was designed to answer the question: Does submacular surgery of patients with large or poorly demarcated areas of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration significantly increase the likelihood of vision stabilization or improvement for two years or longer compared to no surgery?

The SST Group H was designed to answer the question: Does submacular surgery of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome or idiopathic causes significantly increase the likelihood of vision stabilization or improvement for two years or longer compared to no surgery?

Health status and visual functioning ("quality of life") are secondary outcomes in all three trials.

The eligibility and exclusion criteria are summarized below:

Eligibility Criteria Summary for Group H Protocol

• Patients 18 years of age and older
• Reduced visual acuity
• Fluorescein angiographic features:
  • Choroidal neovascularization (new or recurring after laser photocoagulation) involving the center of the macula;
  • Choroidal neovascularization due to the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome or idiopathic causes;
• Able to be examined annually at an SST Center for up to 4 years after entry into the trial.

Eligibility Criteria Summary for Group B Protocol

• Patients 50 years of age and older
• Reduced visual acuity
• Fluorescein angiographic features:
  • Large subretinal hemorrhage due to choroidal neovascularization (new or recurring after laser photocoagulation) involving the center of the macula;
  • Evidence of age-related macular degeneration
• Able to be examined annually at an SST Center for up to 4 years after entry into the trial.

 Eligibility Criteria Summary for Group N Protocol

• Patients 50 years of age and older
• Reduced visual acuity
• Fluorescein angiographic features:
  • Choroidal neovascularization (new, no prior laser photocoagulation) involving the center of the macula;
  • Large lesion (area greater than area of circle that has a diameter of approximately 2 disc diameters) or lesion with poorly demarcated boundaries;
• Able to be examined annually at an SST Center for up to 4 years after entry into the trial.

For questions or additional information about the SST, please call the SST Chairman’s Office (toll-free) 888-554-0412 or go to the SST website at the National Eye Institute.  The SST clinical centers are listed below:

Arlington (Dallas), TX
David G. Callanan, M.D.
Texas Retina Associates
7150 Greenville Avenue
Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75231
Clinic Coordinator: Jodi R. Creighton, COA
Telephone: 817-261-9625
Fax: 817-261-9165

Atlanta, GA
Hubbard Baker, M.D.
Emory University Eye Center
1365-B Clifton Road NE, Suite 2610B
Atlanta, GA 30322
Clinic Coordinator: Jayne M. Brown, BS
Telephone: 404-778-4430
Fax: 404-778-2173

Baltimore, MD
Julia A. Haller, M.D.
The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
600 North Wolfe Street, Maumenee 229
Baltimore, MD 21287-9226
Clinic Coordinator: Tracey Porter, BA, COT, CCRP
Telephone: 410-955-6586
Fax: 410-614-8705

Boston, MA
Jorge G. Arroyo, M.D.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Retina Service
243 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: 617-573-3517
Fax: 617-573-5599

Chicago, IL
Mathew W. MacCumber, M.D., Ph.D.
Illinois Retina Associates, S.C.
71 W. 156th Street, Suite 400
Harvey, IL 60426
Clinic Coordinator: Margarita DeAlba, ST
Telephone: 708-596-8710 ext. 6943
Fax: 708-915-2798

Chicago, IL
David V. Weinberg, M.D.
Northwestern University Medical School
675 North St. Clair
Galter Pavillion, 15th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Clinic Coordinator: Lora A. Kaminski, MS, RN
Telephone: 312-695-2567
Fax: 312-695-2321

Cleveland, OH
Hilel Lewis, M.D.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cole Eye Institute
9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk I22
Cleveland, OH 44195
Clinic Coordinator: Larissa S. Schaaf, RN
Telephone: 216-445-4086
Fax: 216-445-8560

Cleveland, OH
Lawrence J. Singerman, M.D.
Retina Associates of Cleveland
26900 Cedar Road, Suite 303
Beachwood, OH 44122
Clinic Coordinator: Kim DuBois, COA
Telephone: 216-831-5700
Fax: 216-360-2196

Columbus, OH
Frederick H. Davidorf, M.D.
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology
456 West 10th Avenue, Suite 5B
Columbus, OH 43210
Clinic Coordinator: Cynthia Taylor, BS
Telephone: 614-293-8041
Fax: 614-293-5591

Durham, NC
Cynthia Toth, M.D.
Duke University Medical Center
Department of Ophthalmology
Box 3802
Durham, NC 27710
Clinic Coordinator: Malcolm M. Anderson, Jr., PAC
Telephone: 919-684-3496
Fax: 919-681-7900

Edina, MN
David F. Williams, M.D.
Vitreoretinal Surgery, PA
310 Minnesota Center
7760 France Avenue South
Edina, MN 55435
Clinic Coordinator: Neal W. Oestrich, COT
Telephone: 952-929-1131
Fax: 952-259-6266

Honolulu, HI
Neal H. Atebara, M.D.
Retina Associates of Hawaii
The Queen's Physician's Office Building II
1329 Lusitana Street
Suite 502
Honolulu, HI 96813
Clinic Coordinator: Sue Pelke, RN, BSN
Telephone: 808-521-8483
Fax: 808-536-8681

Iowa City, IA
James C. Folk, M.D.
The University of Iowa
Department of Ophthalmology
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242-1091
Clinic Coordinator: Steven A. Wallace
Telephone: 319-353-6478
Fax: 319-384-9203

Knoxville, TN
John C. Hoskins, M.D.
Southeastern Retina Associates, PC
1928 Alcoa Highway
Suite 320
Knoxville, TN 37920
Clinic Coordinator: Tina Thibodeaux, BS
Telephone: 865-522-5453
Fax: 865-522-8431

Lexington, KY
William J. Wood, M.D.
Retina and Vitreous Associates of Kentucky
120 North Eagle Creek Drive, Suite 500
Lexington, KY 40509
Clinic Coordinator: J. Lynn Cruz, COT
Telephone: 800-627-2020
Fax: 859-263-9248

Los Angeles, CA
Steven D. Schwartz, M.D.
Jules Stein Eye Institute
100 Stein Plaza, UCLA
Room 2-565 DSERC
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Clinic Coordinator: Rosaleen Ostrick, MPH, MA
Telephone: 310-794-5595
Fax: 310-267-2700

Menlo Park, CA
Mark S. Blumenkranz, M.D.
California Vitreoretinal Associates
1225 Crane Street
Suite 202
Menlo Park, CA 94305
Clinic Coordinator: Patti Mattio
Telephone: 650-614-3714
Fax: 650-614-3716


Oklahoma City, OK
Reagan H. Bradford, Jr., M.D.
Dean A. McGee Eye Institute
608 Stanton L. Young Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Clinic Coordinator: Lisa M. Ogilbee, BS, COA
Telephone: 405-271-3306
Fax: 405-271-3347


Phoenix, AZ
Jack O. Sipperley, M.D.
Retinal Consultants of Arizona, Ltd.
1101 E. Missouri
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Clinic Coordinator: Kaz Tysiac
Telephone: 602-222-2221
Fax: 602-222-9361

Pittsburgh, PA
Robert L. Bergren, M.D.
Retina Vitreous Consultants
3501 Forbes Avenue, Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Clinic Coordinator: Christina Trombetta
Telephone: 412-683-5300
Fax: 412-683-6008

Portland, OR
David J. Wilson, M.D.
Casey Eye Institute
3375 West Terwilliger Boulevard
Portland, OR 97201-4197
Clinic Coordinator: Susan Pope, COT
Telephone: 503-494-3053
Fax: 503-494-3182

Royal Oak, MI
George A. Williams, M.D.
William Beaumont Hospital
Associated Retinal Consultants, P.C.
636 Beaumont Medical Building
3535 West Thirteen Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Clinic Coordinator: Kristi L. Cumming, RN
Telephone: 248-551-4603
Fax: 248-551-7832

San Francisco, CA
H. Richard McDonald, M.D.
Schatz, McDonald, Johnson & Ai
#1 Daniel Burnham Court, Suite 210C
San Francisco, CA 94109
Clinic Coordinator: Margaret Stolarczuk, OD
Telephone: 415-441-0906
Fax: 415-441-1255

St. Louis, MO
Nancy M. Holekamp, M.D.
Barnes Retina Institute
One Barnes Hospital Plaza, Suite 17413
St. Louis, MO 63110
Clinic Coordinator: Lynda Boyd, COT
Telephone: 314-367-1181
Fax: 314-367-0878

Toledo, OH
Samuel R. Pesin, M.D.
St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center
2213 Cherry Street, Suite 400
Toledo, OH 43608
Clinic Coordinator: James M. Haener, COT
Telephone: 419-251-1684
Fax: 419-251-7260
Resource Centers

Chairman's Office

Neil M. Bressler, M.D. (Chairman)
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-502-5262
Fax: 410-614-8080
E-mail: pegorr@jhmi.edu

Paul Sternberg, Jr., M.D.(Co-Chairman)
Emory University Eye Center
1365-B Clifton Road, NE, Suite 2610B
Atlanta, GA 30322
Telephone: 404-778-4120
Fax: 404-778-4380

Matthew A. Thomas, M.D.(Co-Chairman)
Barnes Retina Institute
One Barnes Hospital Plaza, Suite 17413
St. Louis, MO 63110
Telephone: 314-367-1181
Fax: 314-367-1181

GW Hale, (Professor and Chairman)
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery and Diseases
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
8030 Medical Center East
Nashville, TN 37232-1453
Telephone: 615-936-1453
Fax: 615-936-3497

Eric B. Bass, MD, MPH
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
1830 East Monument Street, Room 8060
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-955-9871
Fax: 410-955-0825

Coordinating Center

Barbara S. Hawkins, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Wilmer Clinical Trials and Biometry
The Johns Hopkins University
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD 21205-2010
Telephone: 410-955-8318
Fax: 410-955-0569
E-Mail: bhawkins@jhu.edu

Photograph Reading Center

Susan B. Bressler, M.D.
Principal Investigator
The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-955-8109
Fax: 410-732-7542
E-mail: sbressler@jhmi.edu

Sharon D. Solomon, MD
Co-Principal Investigator
The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-955-8109
Fax: 410-732-7542
E-mail: ssolomon1@jhmi.edu

SST Pathology Center

Hans E. Grossniklaus, MD
Principal Investigator
L.F. Montgomery Eye Pathology Center
BT428 Emory Eye Center
1365-B Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: 404-778-4415
Fax: 404-778-4272

NEI Representative

Maryann Redford, DDS, MPH
National Eye institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Suite 350
6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7164
Bethesda, MD 20892-7164
Telephone: 301-496-5983
Fax: 301-402-0528

Data and Safety Monitoring Committee

Gary W. Abrams, M.D.
Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne State University
4717 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48201
Telephone: 313-577-1355
Fax: 313-577-1486

John E. Connett, Ph.D.
CCBR, Room 200
Division of Biometry
2221 University Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Telephone: 612-626-9010
Fax: 612-626-9054

Christine Grady, R.N., Ph.D.
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bldg. 10/1C118 MSC 1156
Bethesda, MD 20892-1156
Telephone: 301-496-2429
Fax: 301-496-0760

Earl Harrison
6336 Utah Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20015-2434
Telephone: 202-362-6331
Fax: 202-362-5696

Argye I. Hillis, Ph.D. (Chair)
Texas A&M University (Retired)
3640 Alta Vista
Waco, TX 76706
Telephone: 254-662-2410
Fax: 254-662-3867

Lee M. Jampol, M.D.
Department of Ophthalmology
Northwestern University Medical School
645 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 440
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: 312-908-8152
Fax: 312-503-8152

Ex Officio Members

Neil M. Bressler, M.D.
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-502-5262
Fax: 410-614-8080

Li Ming Dong, PhD
Wilmer Clinical Trials and Biometry
The Johns Hopkins University
550 North Broadway
Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD
Telephone: 410-955-8318
Fax: 410-955-0569

Maryann Redford, DDS, MPH
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health
Executive Plaza South, Suite 350
6120 Executive Boulevard MSC 7164
Bethesda, MD
Telephone: 301-496-5983
Fax: 301-402-0528

Barbara S. Hawkins, Ph.D.
SST Coordinating Center
Wilmer Clinical Trials and Biometry
The Johns Hopkins University
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD
Telephone: 410-955-8318
Fax: 410-955-0569

Marta S. Marsh, M.S.
Wilmer Clinical Trials and Biometry
The Johns Hopkins University
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD
Telephone: 410-955-8318
Fax: 410-955-0569

Other

Carol M. Mangione, M.D., M.S.P.H.
UCLA School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
911 Broxton Plaza, Room 119
Box 951736
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Telephone: 310-794-2298
Fax: 310-794-0723

Peggy R. Orr, M.P.H., C.O.M.T.
SST Study Chairman's Office
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-502-5262
Fax: 410-614-8080

Paul Sternberg, Jr., M.D. (Vice-Chairman)
Emory University Eye Center
1365-B Clifton Road, NE, Suite 2610B
Atlanta, GA 30322
Telephone: 404-778-4120
Fax: 404-778-4380

Matthew A. Thomas, M.D. (Vice-Chairman)
Barnes Retina Institute
One Barnes Hospital Plaza, Suite 17413
St. Louis, MO 63110
Telephone: 314-367-1181
Fax: 314-367-1181

Eric B. Bass, MD, MPH
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
1830 East Monument Street, Room 8060
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-955-9871
Fax: 410-955-0825

Sharon D. Solomon, MD
Co-Principal Investigator
The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
550 North Broadway, Ninth Floor
Baltimore, MD 21205
Telephone: 410-955-8109
Fax: 410-732-7542
E-mail: ssolomon1@jhmi.edu