State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology
The State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (SKLO) serves as one of the important arms of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University (ZOC), which is rated the Best Reputation Hospital and Best Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (STEM) by specialty in China for recent years.
SKLO’s root traced to the first western eye hospital in China established in 1835 in Guangzhou. Due to the seniors’ ambitious effort on eye care and research over past decades, a laboratory of ophthalmic supported by the Chinese Health Ministry was established in 1991, which evolved into the current SKLO supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology in 2006. It is the only one state key laboratory in ophthalmological industry of China.
SKLO strives to advance our knowledge on the visual system in health and diseases, preserve and restore vision, and improve the quality of life ultimately.
With the management of Professors Yizhi Liu and Lin Chen, SKLO creates a multidisciplinary board with more than 100 researchers. The scientists in SKLO actively conduct both basic and translational research in the fields of stem cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, vascular biology, immunology, gene therapy, and blindness prevention.
Over past years, the study on stem cell-mediated lens repair (Nature, 2016) from Professor Yizhi Liu’s team was recognized as one of the top 8 notable advances in the field of life sciences by Nature Medicine, 2016.
Pointed a new strategy for treating corneal surface diseases by the WNT7A–PAX6 axis in corneal epithelial cell fate determination. (Nature, 2014)
Discovered that outdoor activities help nearsightedness prevention in children (JAMA, 2015), which is impressed President Jinping Xi and Chinese government to formulate policy on myopia prevention.
Advised that widespread prophylactic laser peripheral iridotomy for primary angle-closure suspects not recommended (Lancet, 2019).
Established the artificial-intelligence (AI) system providing diagnostic and treatment suggestions for cataract (Nat Biomed Eng, 2017), glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal diseases. (JAMA 2017)
SKLO regards the education as one of the highest priorities to endeavors to achieve international excellence around the world. In 2015, The Asia-pacific Academic of Ophthalmology (APAO) launched permanent headquarter in SKLO. APAO is the largest regional academic organization in the world, with the aim of propelling ophthalmological development, especially the internationalization of ophthalmology education in member countries. It indicated a closer relationship between Chinese ophthalmologists and world scientific community of ophthalmology.
