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Dr. O’Brien cares for patients at the Scheie Eye Institute. She specializes in the treatment of ocular tumors, including retinoblastoma, ocular melanoma, conjunctival malignancies, ocular metastases, and ocular and CNS lymphoma.

Medical School: Dartmouth Medical School
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Fellowship: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Residency: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Fellowship: UCSF Medical Center and Hospital

American Academy of Ophthalmology, National American Association for Cancer Research, National American Association for the Advancement of Science, National American Board of Ophthalmology, National American Medical Women's Association, National American Society of Clinical Oncology, National American Society of Retina Specialists, National Apogean Society-Oculoplastics Society, National Aspen Retinal Detachment Society, National Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology-Anatomy/Pathology Section, International California Academy of Sciences, Local California Physicians Alliance, Local Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Local Children's Oncology Group of NCI, National Clinical Research Forum, Local Doris Duke Foundation, National European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, International Faster Cures, A Center of The Milken Institute, National Frederick C. Cordes Eye Society, Local Global Genes Project, National Greater Philadelphia Ophthalmic Society, Local Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Local Institute of Medicine, National International College of Surgeons, Fellow, International International Society for Eye Research, International International Society of Ocular Oncology, International International US Surgeon, International Joint European Research Meetings in Ophthalmology and Vision-Ophthalmic Oncology Group, International Massachusetts Medical Society, Local National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research, National National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), National National Association of Professional Women, National National Cancer Institute, International Cancer Information Center, International National Eye Institute, eyeGENE Steering Committee, National NCI Study Committee, Member, National Neuroscience Graduate Group, Local Ophthalmic Women Leaders, National ORBIS, International Penn Forum for Women Faculty, Local Penn Medicine Biobank Committee, Local Phi Beta Kappa, National Phi Beta Kappa, Northern California Association, Local Philadelphia College of Physicians, Local Principal Investigator/Invited Member, National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping Network (eyeGENE), national Eye Institute, National Research to Prevent Blindness, National Research to Prevent Blindness, Ophthalmologocial Associate Member, National The European Society for Medical Oncology, Associate Member, International The Macula Society, National The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, International The Penn Club of New York, Local Union League of Philadelphia, Local Women in Ophthalmology, National

Hospital Privileges:

• Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.
• Penn Presbyterian Medical Center: Has privileges to treat patients in the hospital.

Description of Research Expertise:

Dr. Joan O’Brien has extensive expertise in the study of the genetics of ocular diseases including retinoblastoma, melanoma and glaucoma. Dr. O’Brien’s laboratory has identified numerous unique pathogenic variants in the retinoblastoma gene (RB1). This testing has allowed retinoblastoma therapy to be directed according to underlying genetic risk, and is offered nationwide at no charge to patients through NEI’s eyeGENE™ initiative. Dr. O’Brien directs a research laboratory with next generation sequencing and high-throughput, automated Sanger sequencing capabilities, which focuses on translational genetics research with an emphasis on molecular sub-classification and endophenotyping of ocular disease. Currently, Dr. O’Brien is the primary investigator on an $11.25 million 5-year Primary Open Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study.

Clinical Trials
Dr. O’Brien has 15 years of National Cancer Institute funded leadership roles in clinical trials and phenotype validation for all retinoblastoma studies administered through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Over the past five years, in collaboration with colleagues at UCSF, the group has discovered and characterized two novel oncogenes (GNAQ, Nature 2009 and GNA11, NEJM 2010) which regulate the MAP kinase pathway. This has allowed Dr. O’Brien’s uveal melanoma patients to have personalized and targeted therapy with MEK inhibitors, providing prolongation of life for these patients with widely metastatic melanoma.

Keywords
retinoblastoma, melanoma, genetics research, glaucoma

Selected Publications:

Danford I, Verkuil L, Choi D, Collins D, Guidseva H, Uyhazi K, Lau, Marisa, Kanu L, Grant G, Chavali V, O'Brien, JM.: Characterizing the “POAGome”: A bioinformatics-driven approach to primary open-angle glaucoma Proq Retin Eye Res. 58 : 89-114,2018.

Kikut, A, O'Brien J: A Collaborative Community Model for Including Minorities in Genetic Research JAMA Ophthalmology : 2018.

1., Collins DW, Gudiseva HG, Chavali VRM, Trachtman B, Ramakrishnan M, Merritt WT, Pistilli M, Rossi RM, Blachon S, Sankar P, Miller-Ellis E, Lehman A, Addis V, O’Brien JM: The MT-CO1 V83I polymorphism is a risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma in African American men. IOVS 59 : 1751-1759,2018.

O'Brien JM, Salowe R, Fertig R, Salinas J, Pistilli M, Sankar P, Miller-Ellis, E, Lehman A, Murphy W, Homsher M, Gordon K, Ying, G.: Family History in the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics Study Cohort American Journal of Ophthalmology : 2018.

Parik RN, Sandhu HS, Massaro-Giordano G, Goldstein SM, O'Brien JM.: Benign Reactive Lymphoid Hyperplasia of the Conjunctiva Treated with Cyclosporine. Cornea : 2017.

Salowe R, O'Keefe L, Merriam S, Lee R, Khachatryan N, Sankar P, Miller-Ellis E, Lehman A, Addis V, Murphy W, Henderer J, Maguire M, O'Brien J.: Cost and yield considerations when expanding recruitment for genetic studies: the primary open-angle African American glaucoma genetics study BMC Medical Research Methodology : 2017.

Sankar PS, Keefe LO, Choi D, Salowe R, Miller-Ellis E, Lehman A, Addis V, Ramakrishnan M, Natesh V, Whitehead G, Khachatryan G, O'Brien J: The SCHEIE Visual Field Grading System. J Clin Exp Ophthalmol 8 (3): 2017.

O’Brien JM, Salowe RJ, Fertig R, Salinas J, Pistilli M, Sankar PS, Miller-Ellis E, Lehman A, Murphy W, Homsher M, Gordon K, Ying G: Family History in the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics Study Cohort. Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society. In press : 2017.

Salowe R, O'Keefe L, Merriam S, Lee R, Khachatryan, N, Sankar P, Miller-Ellis E, Lehman A, Addis V, Murphy W, Henderer J, Maguire M, O'Brien J: Cost and Yield Considerations when Expanding Recruitment for Genetic Studies: The Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics Study BMC Medical Research Methodology : 2017.

Parikh R, Okeefe L, Salowe R, Mccoskey M, Wei Pan W, Sankar P, Miller-Ellis E, Addis V, Lehman A, Maguire MG, O'Brien JM: Factors Associated with Participation by African Americans in a Study of the Genetics of Glaucoma. Ethnicity and Health : 2017.

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