Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

"I would like to see us recognized, nationally and internationally, as a center of excellence in both clinical care and scientific research. Our goal is to become one of the foremost medical research centers for ophthalmology in the country... Louisville is one of the few major cities in the United States where there is no overabundance of specialists in Ophthalmology. The opportunity for talented people to succeed here is excellent."

To Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Kaplan, Call 502-852-5466

The success of any scientific or medical establishment is measured by its ability to enhance the pace of research, expand the boundaries of investigation, inspire innovation, encourage support, attract talent, and set a standard for quality that will raise the bar for the foreseeable future. In each of these aspects, Dr. Henry J. Kaplan has brought a new level of excitement and excellence through his leadership of the Kentucky Lions Eye Center and the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at the University of Louisville.

As well as being a uniquely skilled medical practitioner, Dr. Kaplan is internationally acknowledged as a major force in ophthalmological research, in a field with relatively few clinician/scientists. Although he began his career as a surgeon, he entered the field of ophthalmology and helped to discover a new field of ocular immunology known as Anterior Chamber-Associated Immune Deviation.

Dr. Kaplan, in collaboration with a diverse team of researchers, focuses on two main fields of study -  retinal/macular degeneration and uveitis. He has performed photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelial tissue transplantation in Retinitis Pigmentosa and Age-related Macular Degeneration in an attempt to treat patients with these diseases.  Additionally, investigations by Dr. Kaplan and his teams explore the intricacies of retinal regeneration  through the use of stem cells,  and the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune uveitis.  Much of this cutting edge translational research offers the bridge between basic  science  and clinical application, creating an exceptional environment for the fostering of fresh ideas in ophthalmology.

Current Position

Evans Professor of Ophthalmology Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Director, Kentucky Lions Eye Center On Staff since 2000

Specialties

Retina
Uveitis

Board Certification

American Board of Ophthalmology
National Board of Medical Examiners

Medical License

Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, Wisconsin, Iowa, California, Texas, New York

Contact Information

hank.kaplan@louisville.edu
University of Louisville
Dept. Of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
301 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40202
502-852-5466
FAX 502-852-4595

Education

Columbia College of Columbia University, New York, NY, A.B. 1964
Cornell Medical School of Cornell University, NY, NY, M.D. 1968
Lakeside Hospital, The University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case-Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio Internship in Medicine, 1968-1969
Bellevue Hospital, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, Surgical Residency; 1969-1970
Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas (Southwestern) Medical School, Dallas, TX, NIH Research Fellowship in Immunology; 1972-1974
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, Ophthalmology Residency, 1975- 1978
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Retina-Vitreous Fellowship, 1978-1979

Professional Societies and Affiliations

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fellow -American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Association of Immunologists, American Uveitis Society, Macula Society, The Retina Society ,American Society of Retina Specialists, Fellow - The American College of Surgeons,  Louisville Society of Ophthalmology, Jefferson County Medical Society, Kentucky Ophthalmologic Society, and the Kentucky Medical Association.

Current Research Grants

5R24 EY01 5636-03

Kaplan (PI)

4/01/04-3/31/10

NIH/NEI $110,060

Vision Research Infrastructure Development

Support of two core modules, Image Acquisition & Analysis and Flow Cytometry, for University of Louisville faculty and the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Role: PI

1R41 EY01751

Kaplan (PI)

7/1/08-06/30/10

NIH/NEI STTR (Potentia) $102,964

Targeting Drug-Delivery Nanoparticles to Sites of Inflammation

The major goal of this project is designed to deliver anti-angiogenic drugs to pathologic sites, such as choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Role: PI

R01 EY012974-05

Shao (PI)

12/1/06-11/30/11

NIH/NEI $567,305

The Role of Costimulatory Molecules in Uveitis

Experimental autoimmune uveitis is studied with the aim of suppressing intraocular inflammation by targeting these molecules.

Role: Co-investigator

Rounsavall Foundation

Kaplan (PI)

09/01/2009-08/30/10

Functional Reconstruction of the Outer Retina $50,000 Stem cell regeneration of the retina through bioengineering is a multi-institutional research program designed to study the ability of retinal stem cells in bioengineered matrices to repair damaged retina.

Role: PI

Research to Prevent Blindness

Kaplan (PI)

1-1-09 to 12-31-09

Unrestricted Grant $110,000

Support the research activities of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Louisville

Select Publications

Major role of gamma delta T cells in the generation of IL-17+ uveitogenic T cells.
Cui Y, Shao H, Lan C, Nian H, O'Brien RL, Born WK, Kaplan HJ, Sun D.
J Immunol. 2009 Jul 1;183(1):560-7.

Identification of small Sca-1(+), Lin(-), CD45(-) multipotential cells in the neonatal murine retina. Liu Y, Gao L, Zuba-Surma EK, Peng X, Kucia M, Ratajczak MZ, Wang W, Enzman V, Kaplan HJ, Dean DC.
Exp Hematol. 2009 Sep;37(9):1096-107, 1107.e1. Epub 2009 Jun 17.

Regulation of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP)-specific Th1 and Th17 cells in anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID).
Cui Y, Shao H, Sun D, Kaplan HJ.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]

Synthesis and secretion of hemoglobin by retinal pigment epithelium.
Tezel TH, Geng L, Lato EB, Schaal S, Liu Y, Dean D, Klein JB, Kaplan HJ.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Apr;50(4):1911-9. Epub 2008 Dec 5.