AUSTIN CLINICAL RESEARCH - Key Persons
Bimal Nepal is an experienced ophthalmic photographer specializing in retinal diseases. He was trained in one of the Harvard University Medical School hospitals in Boston Massachusetts. He is proficient in Fluorescein and ICG Angiography, color fundus photography, OCT & OCT-A imaging amongst other retinal diagnostic imaging.
Byron David Brent, MD, is a board certified ophthalmologist who specializes in diseases of the retina. A native of Pasadena, Texas, he graduated from Rice University with a degree in biology. After completing his medical training at the University of Texas at San Antonio with honors, he completed an internship in internal medicine. He then completed a three year ophthalmology residency at Tulane University Medical Center, and served as Chief Resident in his final year. Following residency, he pursued an additional two years of training in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous. He has taken excimer laser training at the prestigious Johns Hopkins - Wilmer Eye Institute and the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. Dr. Brent has various teaching appointments, awards, and honors as well as a plethora of presentations and publications. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Brent has a private practice in Austin, TX and is an investigator at Austin Clinical Research.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
Cristina Umana was born in Queens, New York but grew up most of her life in Austin, Texas. As an unconventional student she decided to pursue her degree after having established her family with her husband, Allan Umana. Together they have 3 beautiful little girls: Mckayla, Mia and Melody. She then graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos in 2019 with a major in microbiology and a minor in biochemistry being accepted in the National Honor Society in 2019. While attending college, she completed a year of independent research studies alongside the Dean of the Microbiology department and mentor Dr. Robert McLean; studying "Gene manipulation on the CviR gene in Chromobacterium violaceum to better understand the virulent mechanisms of quorum signaling". Cristina began her research career in 2020 working in a Clinical Research setting for Skin care products. She then decided to find a greater challenge and joined the Austin Clinical Research team in July of 2022. Her long-term passion is to oversee breastmilk research and how it can potentially one day aide in disease treatments. She loves to spend time with her family exploring all the new and upcoming activities and restaurants, and spending time with her church family as often as possible.
Job Titles:
- Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
Daniela Wilson joined Dr. Brian Berger's clinical practice in 2014. She was hired as an ophthalmic technician and quickly transitioned to a scribing position with Dr. Berger. Over the next few years, Daniela developed many skills such as surgery scheduling, preparing and assisting with treatments, working with patient assistance programs and gained a wealth of knowledge in retinal diseases and FDA approved treatments for retinal diseases. In 2017, Daniela transitioned to a Clinical Research Coordinator position and has thrived in her role. Daniela has extensive coordinating experience in dozens of Phase I-IV trials with pharmaceutical and government funded sponsors, is a certified BCVA examiner with most vendors and enjoys providing individualized patient care in the latest treatments for retina diseases. Daniela is married with one child (Sofia) and two pets (Tatiana, and Aries). She enjoys spending time with her family and social Latin dancing in her free time.
Dr. Brian B. Berger is a physician and surgeon who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases dealing with the retina and vitreous of the eye. He began his journey by attending the University of Chicago Medical School. After receiving an internship in Phoenix, Arizona, he returned to Chicago for a three year residency in ophthalmology at the University of Illinois. To complete his training, Dr. Berger finished a year-long fellowship studying retinal diseases at the prestigious Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Having been a leader in Ophthalmological clinical research since 1985, Dr. Berger understands the importance of the advancement of his field and has received multiple awards for his dedication and determination. Dr. Berger practiced as a private clinician for over 30 years and founded a clinical research facility, Retina Research Center, where he served as a principal investigator for decades. Showing not only his dedication to the techniques and medicines used in the field of ophthalmology, Dr. Berger also shows his passion for his profession by imbuing future physicians with the knowledge that he has acquired over his career. He has written several textbook chapters, published over two dozen articles and teaches ophthalmology to students. Dr. Berger is a well known and respected consultant in his field where a majority of his patients are referred to him by his peers. Dr. Berger is married to Barbara Pereira and has a stepson, Jesse, who graduated from Westlake High School. He has three grown daughters, Meredith and Melissa who are twins, and Amanda.
Ivana graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 2009 with a major in psychology and a minor in biology. Ivana started her career as a scribe in Dr. Berger's clinical practice in 2009 with plans of going to medical school. After a short time, she joined Dr. Berger's research team as a clinical research coordinator and changed career paths to stay in medical research. She excelled as a coordinator and was promoted to director in 2015. Ivana founded her own clinical research office in 2021 and is continuing her role as director. Ivana has participated in over a hundred clinical trials, has extensive experience in contract and budgets execution, regulatory, finance and all other aspects of clinical trial management at the site level. Ivana trained and hired our current team and is proud to work with such a great group of people. She is married to Patrick Gunderson and has two wonderful children, Anabella & William. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, exercising and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
Kaitlyn began her career as a Clinical Research Coordinator in June of 2019. She grew up in the dry plains of Lubbock, Texas, but came to the hill country of Austin to get her Bachelor of Science and Arts degree in Biochemistry and Psychology at the wonderful University of Texas, where she graduated in May of 2019. Kaitlyn has been fascinated with the biomedical sciences for as long as she can remember, and feels very fortunate to be able to work in a place where the sciences are put to use in order to preserve people's vision - one of the greatest gifts of our lifetime. Kaitlyn also enjoys getting to know her patients individually, and dreams of going on to get her MD so that she can put her love of the biomedical sciences to use in new ways in service of her newfound community here in Austin. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys playing guitar, reading, and going on scenic walks with her boyfriend and dog.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
Living in Texas for most of his life, Luke attended the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2021. While attending college, he completed over two thousand hours of research on Western honey bees which culminated in a paper published in Science in 2020. He was able to entertain his own research pursuits after receiving an Undergraduate Research Fellowship and was selected as one of the 10 Outstanding UT Class of 2021 Seniors due to his research work over the course of his undergraduate career. Luke's interests shifted to medicine and medical research after shadowing physicians and taking multiple transformative courses during his time at UT. Luke joined the Austin Clinical Research team in 2021. In his free time, he enjoys making music by playing guitar, piano, and bass. He also enjoys playing basketball and tennis, learning how to cook, and frequently visiting his siblings and nephew.
Stephen Bedford Whiteside, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a proud native Texan. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating on the Dean's Honor Roll. He went on to Baylor College of Medicine for his medical training. From there, Dr. Whiteside completed his internship at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, graduating 2nd in his class. He was selected for training as a Naval Flight Surgeon, and attended the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida, graduating with honors. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He completed his research fellowship and ophthalmology training at the Storm Eye Institute, serving as Chief Resident during his final year. After residency, Dr.
Whiteside returned to Texas, where he currently has a refractive surgery practice in Austin, and has served as a consultant to the Army Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program at Fort Hood. He is currently the Treasurer of the Austin Ophthalmology Society, and served on the Texas Ophthalmological Association's Executive Council for 15 years. Dr. Whiteside is an accomplished author and lecturer, and has provided a lecture series on eye trauma at the University of Texas. He is a recipient of the Leadership Achievement Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Whiteside has been married to his college sweetheart for 32 years and has a son and daughter, who are both in college. Dr. Whiteside is passionate about clinical research and has over a decade of experience as an investigator in clinical trials.
Job Titles:
- COA - Clinical Research Coordinator
Valerie is a native of New Haven Connecticut and has lived in Texas for 5 years. She started a career as an optometric assistant in 1978 before furthering her career as an ophthalmic technician in 1981, enjoying several years in ophthalmology as not only a technician but as a surgery coordinator and becoming a certified ophthalmic assistant. In 2016, Valerie began a career in Austin as a clinical research coordinator and joined the Austin Clinical Research team in 2021. Valerie has one daughter, enjoys cooking in her free time and lives with her husband just outside of Austin.
With 12 years of clinical training and experience in ophthalmology in anterior and posterior segments as well as orbit in China, Yong completed a four year postdoctoral research at the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UTMB, Galveston, Texas from 2002 to 2006. He also received a Master of Medical Science (Neuroscience) degree in 2004 at UTMB. He joined Dr. Berger's private clinical practice and research team in 2006, and is a wonderful addition to the Austin Clinical Research team. Yong is a certified retinal photographer with all major reading centers, and an ophthalmic sonographer. He enjoys working with patients and the latest technology in retinal eye care. In his spare time, Yong enjoys going for runs, biking, reading, and traveling.