"I love my research projects because they are directly related to the patients that I care for and are an extension of clinical care, helping to find better ways to treat blinding and life-threatening conditions."
Dr. Elaine Binkley is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, specializing in retinal diseases and ocular oncology. She is recognized for her innovative approaches and dedication to improving patient outcomes. Her expertise in ocular oncology, particularly in eye cancers like ocular melanoma, involves advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques, including brachytherapy and surgical interventions using a vitreoretinal approach.
Dr. Binkley’s potential for groundbreaking work is evident in her approach to both patient care and research. "I love my research projects because they are directly related to the patients that I care for and are an extension of clinical care, helping to find better ways to treat blinding and life-threatening conditions," said Dr. Binkley. She utilizes cutting-edge imaging and surgical techniques to diagnose and treat retinal and oncological problems, improving the accuracy of diagnoses and the effectiveness of treatments. Known for her compassionate approach, she emphasizes the importance of enhancing patients’ quality of life through tailored treatment plans and ongoing support. Her active involvement in clinical trials aimed at developing new treatments for retinal diseases and eye cancers often focuses on the molecular and genetic aspects of these conditions, paving the way for personalized medicine.
Her collaborative efforts with other leading researchers and institutions amplify the impact of her work, contributing to a broader understanding and advancement in ophthalmology. Dr. Binkley’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, as she has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. Notably, she was awarded a $1.3 million grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation for research related to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Some of Dr. Binkley’s most recent research deals with the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research (DRCR) Network Protocol AL clinical trials. She serves as the site principal investigator for this study which is the largest nationwide study of patients with uveal melanoma since the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study. These clinical trials compare different therapies to prevent vision loss in people who have radiation retinopathy caused by radiation treatment for eye cancer.
"...for some patients, the tumor could change or move after the placement of the plaque and those patients weren’t getting the correct dosage of radiation because the apex of the tumor had shifted slightly.”
Continuing with research related to ocular oncology, Dr. Binkley was the first author on a retrospective study which highlighted the importance of postoperative echography in adjusting treatment plans to account for changes in tumor size and position due to edema or hemorrhage. “Like a lot of centers, we found that if you use echography (ultrasound) to localize the plaque, which releases radiation to treat the tumor, and make sure that it's lined up in the operating room, the outcomes are better. But then we also started to realize that for some patients, the tumor could change or move after the placement of the plaque and those patients weren’t getting the correct dosage of radiation because the apex of the tumor had shifted slightly,” Binkley explained. “Some patients get some bleeding within the tumor, or if the plaque is really close to an eye muscle, it can lift up the plaque, which effectively lifts it out of the dose range.” Through the study, Dr. Binkley and her team realized long-term results improve if an echograph is taken after surgery so that dosage of radiation can be adjusted to account for any movement of the plaque or tumor.
“Our retina fellowship is unique in providing hands on exposure to ocular oncology treatments and diagnostics during the fellowship.”
In discussing this study, Dr. Binkley mentioned how being at Iowa has allowed her to expand beyond just ocular oncology. “It's kind of been nice here at Iowa because there's only a few people in the country that are trained in both retina surgery and in ocular oncology, and so the thing it allows us to do is a lot of tumor biopsies and other things for patients that we wouldn't be able to do if we didn't have the additional retina training.” This even extends to the training experience Iowa provides to retina fellows. “Since I have been on faculty, we have trained three vitreoretinal surgery fellows who also practice ocular oncology,” said Dr. Binkley, who is also the retina fellowship director, “our retina fellowship is unique in providing hands on exposure to ocular oncology treatments and diagnostics during the fellowship.”
Dr. Elaine Binkley is a young scientist and doctor whose innovative work in retinal diseases and ocular oncology is setting new standards in ophthalmology. Her commitment to patient care, combined with her research prowess, makes her a promising figure in the medical community, poised to achieve groundbreaking advancements.
