General Information

Beginning

• Collaboration in study design
  
• Provision of natural history background information (including the Kleins)
  
• Development of photographic and grading protocols
  
• Orientation and certification of photographers
  
• [Orientation and training of visual function examiners]
  
• Training and certification of graders
  

Middle

• Monitoring of photographic quality with feedback
  
• Grading of photographs for presence and severity of abnormalities
  
• Monitoring of grading quality with feedback
  
• Data editing and summarization (e.g. overall severity of disorder)
  

End

• Exploratory analysis at Reading Center
  
• Collaboration in planning analysis at Coordinating Center
  
• Archiving of photographic collections
  

Research and development component

• Extensions of photography protocols (e.g., with digital cameras)
  
• Extensions of manual grading protocols (e.g. MPS protocol for AMD from fluorescein)
  
• Application of image processing techniques (e.g., for nuclear sclerosis)
  
• Desire for greater collaboration with other Department staff
  

Staff organization

• Director and Co-Director
  
• Associate Directors for Grading and Photography
  
• Research Program Manager
  
• Senior Graders - Researcher
  
• Graders - Research Specialist
  
• Photography Protocol Monitor
  
• Coordinator and Clerical Staff
  
• Program Assistant
  
• Ocular Photograph Technician
  
• Data Manager
  
• Computer Programmer
  
• Statistician
  
• Administrative Manager