Lauren A. Dalvin, M.D.

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SUMMARY

Lauren A. Dalvin, M.D., is an ocular oncology specialist who has research interests in eye tumors, including uveal melanoma, conjunctival melanoma and retinoblastoma.

Focus areas

• Eye tumor clinical database and tissue bank. A prospectively collected database is being compiled that includes both clinical data and biopsy tissue of patients with eye tumors and lesions that mimic eye cancer.
• Uveal melanoma studies. Collaborative work with the medical oncology and radiation oncology departments is being performed to determine ways to improve survival in uveal melanoma and improve visual acuity outcomes after treatment of primary tumors.
• Conjunctival melanoma studies. Clinical investigations, including collaboration with the cornea service and medical oncology department, are planned to help improve survival in conjunctival melanoma and reduce the risk of local disease recurrence.
• Retinal imaging in retinoblastoma. Techniques are being evaluated to identify novel features of tumor activity. Studies are underway to investigate molecular markers for retinoblastoma diagnosis via collaboration with other major retinoblastoma centers. Studies to investigate retinoblastoma outcomes in collaboration with interventional radiology and pediatric oncology are planned.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Dalvin's research in eye tumors spans discovering and understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumor formation and spread. As diagnostic and therapeutic modalities improve, earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatment are becoming possible, reducing the risk of metastasis and improving patient survival. As Dr. Dalvin's research progresses, her goal is to develop novel treatments that further improve patient survival, eye survival and visual acuity outcomes.