Center for Retina and Brain (CRAB)
At the Center for Retina and Brain (CRAB), we study the ways that changes in the brain from aging, disease, and injury affect the eye, and whether eye measurements can help us screen for, and understand, changes in the brain. Our hope is that learning about these changes will allow us to provide better screening, diagnostic, and predictive tools to help people with a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
We are located in the Department of Psychiatry, and we collaborate with teams across the university and study a wide range of psychological and medical conditions. Learn more about our current research projects.
Our collaborators include faculty from Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Cardiology, and the Institute for Data Science. Read more about our personnel and opportunities to join our team.
Flash electroretinography (ERG)
Eyeing the Link Between Heart and Brain Health
Exploring the use of retinal biomarkers to study delirium risk and the neural and neurovascular basis for delirium, as well as its subsequent cognitive and functional outcomes.
Superficial retinal vascular layer as imaged by optical coherence tomography angiography
Retinal Vasculopathy as a Proxy for Cerebral Vascular Health
Evaluating changes in retinal microvasculature as a biomarker of changes in cerebral blood flow and cognition in heart failure patients.
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)
Retinal Vasculopathy as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk in Individuals with Early Psychosis
Examines microvascular changes that impact cardiovascular health in early psychosis.
Research Team
Steven Silverstein, PhD
Professor, Psychiatry
Judy L. Thompson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Brian Keane, PhD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Joy Choi, MD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Mark Oldham, MD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry
Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology
View All Research Team Members
Recent Publications
Silverstein, S.M., Keane, B.P., & Corlett, P.R. (2021). Oculomics in schizophrenia research.Schizophrenia Bulletin, 47, 57-59.
https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbab011
Silverstein, S.M., & Lai, A. (2021). The phenomenology and neurobiology of visual distortions and hallucinations in schizophrenia: An update. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 684720.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.684720
Silverstein, S.M., Lai, A., Green, K., Crosta, C., Fradkin, S.I., & Ramchandran, R. (2021). Retinal microvasculature schizophrenia. Eye and Brain, 13, 205-217.
https://doi.org/10.2147/EB.S317186
Silverstein, S.M., Sörensen, S., Sunkara, A., Lai, A., Fradkin, S.I., Ramchandran, R.S. (2021). Association of vision loss and depressive symptomatology in older adults assessed for ocular health in senior living facilities. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics.
https://doi.org/10.1111/opo.12869
Silverstein, S.M., Fradkin, S.I., & Demmin, D.L. (2020). Schizophrenia and the retina: Towards a 2020 perspective.
Schizophrenia Research, 219, 84-94.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.09.016
Lai, A., Crosta, C., Loftin, M., & Silverstein, S.M. (2020). Retinal structural alterations in first episode vs. chronic schizophrenia. Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry, 2, 100013.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bionps.2020.100013
Silverstein, S.M., Demmin, D.L., Schallek, J.B., & Fradkin, S.I. (2020). Measures of retinal structure and function as biomarkers in neurology and psychiatry. Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry, 2, 100018.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bionps.2020.100018
Silverstein, S.M., Seitz, A.R., Ahmed, A.O., Thompson, J.L., Zemon, V., Gara, M., & Butler, P.D. (2020). Development and evaluation of a visual remediation intervention for people with schizophrenia.Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science, 5, e200017.
https://doi.org/10.20900/jpbs.20200017
Contact Us
Center for Retina and Brain (CRAB)
University of Rochester Medical Center
300 Crittenden Boulevard
Rochester, NY, 14642
Center for Retina and Brain
Open Positions
Senior Instructor - Licensed Clinical Psychologist
